British Prime Minister Johnson promises a bold new Brexit deal

[webfact]

British Prime Minister Johnson promises a bold new Brexit deal

By William James and Kylie MacLellan

 

Britain's new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, enters Downing Street, in London, Britain July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Boris Johnson promised in his first speech as prime minister to lead Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 with "no ifs or buts" and warned that if the bloc refused to negotiate then there would be a no-deal Brexit.

 

Johnson, who has been hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump as Britain's Trump, is sending the strongest message yet to the EU that he will be taking a distinctly tougher approach to negotiating a revision of the Brexit divorce deal.

 

He took over from Theresa May at one of the most perilous junctures in post-World War Two British history - the United Kingdom is divided over Brexit and weakened by the three-year political crisis that has gripped it since a 2016 referendum vote to leave the bloc.

 

"We are going to fulfil the repeated promises of parliament to the people and come out of the EU on October 31, no ifs or buts," Johnson, 55, said after arriving at the premier's official residence, No.10 Downing Street.

 

Brexiteer Boris Johnson has realized a long-held dream of entering Number 10 Downing Street. Britain's new prime minister says he'll take Britain out of the EU, "no ifs, no buts" in just three months' time. Lucy Fielder reports.

 

"We can do a deal without checks at the Irish border," he said. "It is of course vital at the same time that we prepare for the remote possibility that Brussels refuses any further to negotiate and we are forced to come out with no deal."

 

Just hours after arriving in Downing Street, the new Conservative Prime Minister began work with one of the biggest culls of senior government jobs in recent British history, changing all of the main ministers. Most of his appointees were Brexit supporters.

 

Johnson's bet is that the threat of a no-deal Brexit will persuade the EU's biggest powers - Germany and France - to agree to revise the divorce deal that May agreed last November but failed to push through the British parliament.

 

The gambit, an admission that three years of Brexit talks have failed, sets the United Kingdom up for a showdown with the EU and thrusts Johnson towards a potential constitutional crisis, or an election, at home.

 

While his strategy could get support from Trump, who had advised May to take a much tougher line with Brussels, he has just 99 days to renegotiate and ratify the so called Withdrawal Agreement that the EU has repeatedly refused to amend.

 

European Council President Donald Tusk wrote to Johnson saying he was looking forward to discussing cooperation "in detail".

 

'NEVER MIND THE BACKSTOP'

One of Britain's most prominent Brexit campaigners, Johnson has repeatedly pledged to leave the EU by Oct. 31 - "do or die" - and to inject a new optimism and energy into the divorce, which he argues will bring a host of opportunities.

 

In his speech on Wednesday, he rebuked "gloomsters" and the political class who he said had forgotten the people they should serve, promising instead to serve the British people who he said were his government's true bosses.

 

One of the issues that prevented May getting a divorce deal through parliament was the Irish "backstop" - an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of a hard border between the Irish Republic and the British province of Northern Ireland.

 

Johnson said that issue could be dealt with.

 

"Never mind the backstop. The buck stops here," he said, adding that new deal could be done that allowed for no border checks. He said the backstop was "anti-democratic".

 

He promised to accelerate preparations for a "no-deal" though he said Britain did not want such an exit.

 

"Listening to what he said today, I got the impression that he wasn't just talking about deleting the (Northern Ireland) backstop, he was talking about a whole new deal - a better deal for Britain," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.

 

"That is not going to happen."

 

Many investors say a no-deal Brexit would send shock waves through the world economy, tip Britain's economy into a recession, roil financial markets and weaken London’s position as the pre-eminent international financial centre.

 

"To all those who continue to prophesy disaster, I say yes - there will be difficulties though I believe that with energy and application they will be far less serious than some have claimed," Johnson said in his speech, watched by his girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, and his staff.

 

PM JOHNSON

Declared new leader of the Conservative Party on Tuesday after a vote by party members, Johnson began forming his government from Brexit supporters.

 

Sajid Javid, the 49-year-old son of Pakistani Muslim immigrant parents, was named as his finance minister. Priti Patel was appointed interior minister. Dominic Raab was appointed foreign minister. Stephen Barclay remained as Brexit minister. Ben Wallace was made defence minister.

 

"He's severing all connections with the Theresa May regime," said Jonathan Tonge, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool.

 

Liz Truss was appointed trade minister, while Gavin Williamson, former defence minister, returned to government as education minister.

 

Johnson is due to appoint Dominic Cummings, the campaign director of the official Brexit Vote Leave campaign, as a senior adviser in Downing Street.

 

There was a moment of drama in Johnson's passage to power as he drove to Buckingham Palace for his audience with Queen Elizabeth and his formal appointment. Greenpeace protesters tried - but failed - to block the path of his car as his chauffeur drove around them.

 

Earlier May appeared to be fighting back tears as she was applauded out of the House of Commons chamber.

 

DISUNITED KINGDOM

Johnson, man known for his ambition, messy blond hair, flowery oratory and cursory command of detail - must solve a series of riddles if he is to succeed where May failed.

 

The 2016 Brexit referendum showed a United Kingdom divided about much more than the EU, and has fuelled soul-searching about everything from immigration to capitalism, the legacy of empire and modern Britishness.

 

The pound is weak, the economy at risk of recession, allies are in despair at the Brexit crisis and foes are testing Britain's vulnerability.

 

Johnson's Conservatives have no majority in parliament and so can govern only with the support of 10 lawmakers from the Brexit-backing Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland.

 

While Johnson has said he does not want an early election, some lawmakers have promised to block any attempt to leave the EU without a divorce deal.

 

(Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Andy Bruce, Kate Holton, William Schomberg, David Milliken and Paul Sandle in London and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Janet Lawrence, Kevin Liffey and Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-25

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[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Johnson's bet is that the threat of a no-deal Brexit will persuade the EU's biggest powers - Germany and France - to agree to revise the divorce deal that May agreed last November

Not going to happen. 

[faraday]

Yea, yea, yea - & in May this year, Teresa: 

 

"promises bold Brexit" etc

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-4832352

 

[david555]

(they put it into a recognizable phrase ….) 

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-leader-macron/frances-macron-congratulates-boris-johnson-as-ex-minister-warns-eu-not-for-turning-idUSKCN1UI1K3

France's Macron congratulates Boris Johnson, as ex-minister warns 'EU not for turning'

 

more...

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/24/boris-johnson-claims-of-side-deals-are-rubbish-eu-says

 

Boris Johnson's claims of 'side deals' are 'pure rubbish', EU says

New Tory leader said no-deal Brexit would be less painful because of ‘side deals’ with Brussels

Boris Johnson’s claims that crashing out of the EU with no deal would be less painful because of a series of “side deals” that the UK has already done with Brussels have been dismissed as “rubbish” by the EU.

Johnson made the assertion several times during his campaign to be the new leader of the Conservative party and EU officials are concerned this was being spun as a new post-Theresa May “truth” after the claims were repeated by supporters in recent days.

Iain Duncan Smith referred to 17 side deals on the table while the former chancellor Norman Lamont told Sky News hours after Johnson won the Tory leadership contest that “there is no such thing as no deal” as there were “all sorts of side deals that were done”.A senior EU official described the claims of side deals as “pure rubbish”, pointing out that the so-called deals are unilateral positions taken by the EU alone to keep the basics functioning on their side of the border.

[Laughing Gravy]

What a great day for Boris Johnson. A brexit cabinet to deliver Brexit. Amazing and you have the remainers and Europhiles on here trying their very best to discredit him in any way. Embarrassing.

 

Either way the EU will have to be more pragmatic or except a no deal.  The UK will be out of the boys club. We will either be 39 billion richer or not. The EU will keep with their bureaucratic way and the UK will cut taxes and make the UK far more attractive to do business, than in the EU.

 

What a great cabinet. Jacob Reece Mogg in. If only a place for Nigel Farage could be found then its perfect.

[fishtank]

The serial liar is as deluded as ever.

He will end up giving the people the final say as he has no choice.

[ezzra]

As long as he keep this anti semite and terrorists penderer and supporter Labour party's leader Jeremy Bernard Corbyn and his ilks at bay, many people will thank him just for that alone...

[Somtamnication]

Waiting for that bold haircut!

[sammieuk1]

Wow what a great rallying speech it brought a lump to my not throat but somewhere much further down ????  

[soalbundy]

I will wait for when reality kicks in

[blazes]

1 hour ago, david555 said:

 

.

Iain Duncan Smith referred to 17 side deals on the table while the former chancellor Norman Lamont told Sky News hours after Johnson won the Tory leadership contest that “there is no such thing as no deal” as there were “all sorts of side deals that were done”.A senior EU official described the claims of side deals as “pure rubbish”, pointing out that the so-called deals are unilateral positions taken by the EU alone to keep the basics functioning on their side of the border.

 

Well,  he (the "senior EU official") would have to say that, wouldn't he?  

[soalbundy]

10 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

Well,  he (the "senior EU official") would have to say that, wouldn't he?  

especially as it likely to be true

[animalmagic]

[fishtank]

[phantomfiddler]

After all the chaos I just wish him good luck ????

[animalmagic]

[BritManToo]

Pound's gone up ........ They must like Boris.

[bert bloggs]

3 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Not going to happen. 

Yes ,shame that those in  Brussels are so stupid . still they dont care ,lots of dosh even when they retire .

[sammieuk1]

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Pound's gone up ........ They must like Boris.

What are going to spend your satang on????

[david555]

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Pound's gone up ........ They must like Boris.

i am curious for the exchange rate after his first visit to Brussels ...

[Xaos]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1503159739848087&id=365076723656400

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

What are going to spend your satang on????

All the remainers predicted it would fall off a cliff if Boris were to be PM.

Seems they were wrong.

[evadgib]

33 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Pound's gone up ........ They must like Boris.

Thanks, I was just about to look! 

(Edit: 38.58 when I did!)

[Chomper Higgot]

Habitual liar makes promise. 

[geoffbezoz]

11 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Thanks, I was just about to look! 

(Edit: 38.58 when I did!)

The baht has dropped against some other countries too, nothing to do with Boris the £ /THB change as yet.

[evadgib]

5 minutes ago, geoffbezoz said:

The baht has dropped against some other countries too, nothing to do with Boris the £ /THB change as yet.

It would have been if it had gone down ????

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Wow what a great rallying speech it brought a lump to my not throat but somewhere much further down ????  

Whatever turns you on.

[JonnyF]

28 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

All the remainers predicted it would fall off a cliff if Boris were to be PM.

Seems they were wrong.

Remainer fear mongering, doomsday predictions proven untrue again? Surely not!

 

[mfd101]

Noone can predict how anyone will perform when he/she reaches the top job, whether in a corporation or in government, city council or whatever.

 

Sometimes someone who spent his life as a number 2 or 3, 2IC, chief of staff, adviser etc, turns into a tiger & everyone is astonished.

 

Sometimes someone who looked like a tiger all his life (Malcolm Turnbull comes to mind) turns out to be a pussy, and everyone claims not to be astonished ...

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, mfd101 said:

Noone can predict how anyone will perform when he/she reaches the top job, whether in a corporation or in government, city council or whatever.

 

Sometimes someone who spent his life as a number 2 or 3, 2IC, chief of staff, adviser etc, turns into a tiger & everyone is astonished.

 

Sometimes someone who looked like a tiger all his life (Malcolm Turnbull comes to mind) turns out to be a pussy, and everyone claims not to be astonished ...

As a general rule, habitual liars tend to continue telling lies.