Intention

Boris Johnson's speech on the EU referendum explores the topic of the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum to leave the EU. The speaker’s message is that leaving the EU is the right option and will bring more benefits to the UK than staying.

Consequently, his overall intention is to convince the audience to vote to leave the EU in the referendum, a purpose clearly stated in the speech: “Vote Leave on June 23, and take back control of our democracy.” (l.89)

To this end, the speaker discusses various disadvantages of staying in the EU related to economic and political aspects, as well as the subsequent advantages of leaving the EU.

In the beginning of the speech, Boris Johnson states that the purpose of his speech is to demonstrate why leaving the EU is appealing not only to conservatives but also to liberals: “And so I want this morning to explain why the campaign to Leave the EU is attracting other liberal spirits and people I admire…” (ll. 7-9)

As the speech progresses, it becomes clear that the speaker wants to outline the many disadvantages that being part of the EU has brought to the UK: “The independence of this country is being seriously compromised. It is this fundamental democratic problem – this erosion of democracy – that brings me into this fight.” (ll. 57-59);

…there has been not a single change to EU competences, not a single change to the Treaty, nothing on agriculture, nothing on the role of the court, nothing of any substance on borders – ...