No. It was well-reported at the time that he DID write two articles (he has said so) and it later became obvious that the reason he selected the leave one is that he estimated it had the better chance of getting him widespread support in the party and across the country such that he could take a tilt at becoming PM. He was proved correct.
Had he gone with remain, he’d have been one of many and not stood out so - certainly he would never have led the remain campaign in the same way he led the leave campaign and gained a huge public profile as a result.
And @gilgongo this was not a story where journos/papers prepare for either outcome (as in a trial or election or referendum) so as to have the story ready to go when the result comes in. BJ wrote an opinion piece early in the campaign, backing leave.
@GagHalfrunt He may have done that too, though I doubt it - had the result gone remain, he was so committed to leave at that point nobody would have believed an article the next day saying his side losing was the best result for the country
