Boris Johnson has set out his vision to “bring our country together” and “get Brexit done” – as he called on the EU to respond to the UK’s “compromise” offer on a new divorce deal.
In his first Conservative conference speech as his party’s leader, Mr Johnson said his government would be tabling “constructive and reasonable proposals” to Brussels later on Wednesday.
The prime minister vowed that “under no circumstances” would there be “checks at or near the border in Northern Ireland”, as he appeared to dismiss recent reports of what will be in the UK’s plans.
He also promised “a process of renewable democratic consent by the executive and assembly of Northern Ireland” for a post-Brexit scenario, as well as the UK being able to have “control of our own trade policy from the start”.
“At the same time we will allow the UK – whole and entire – to withdraw from the EU,” he said.
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In a message to EU leaders, Mr Johnson warned the “alternative” to a failure to reach an agreement is a no-deal Brexit.
He said: “Yes this is a compromise by the UK. And I hope very much that our friends understand that and compromise in their turn.
“Because if we fail to get an agreement because of what is essentially a technical discussion of the exact nature of future customs checks, when that technology is improving the whole time, then let us be in no doubt that the alternative is no-deal.”
However, Mr Johnson’s speech presented a more conciliatory tone from what Number 10 officials had suggested would be a “take it or leave it” offer to the EU.
The prime minister also used his speech to:
- Attack Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for failing to support his call for a general election
- Warn of “grave consequences for trust in democracy” if Brexit did not take place
- Repeat his vow that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October “come what may”
- Promise to create an “economic platform for dynamic free market capitalism”
- Reiterate his domestic priorities of the NHS, schools and police
Mr Johnson’s speech, for which his father Stanley Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds were in the audience, was well-received by Conservative members inside the conference venue although it was unusually void of policy announcements.
In trademark rhetorical flourishes, Mr Johnson spoke of the “supermasticated subject of Brexit”, “fratricidal antisemitic Marxists” at Labour’s conference last week, and “superinformative vermicelli” of broadband investment.
Referring to the Brexit deadlock at parliament, the prime minister claimed the UK is “like a world class athlete with a pebble in our shoe” with “one part of the British system that seems to be on the blink”.
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“If parliament were a reality TV show the whole lot of us would have been voted out of the jungle by now,” he quipped.
“But at least we could have watched the Speaker [John Bercow] being forced to eat a kangaroo testicle.”
He claimed parliament, which he unsuccessfully tried to suspend for five weeks, “refuses to deliver Brexit, refuses to do anything constructive and refuses to have an election”.
He suggested Mr Corbyn could be “sued him for breach of contract” for having repeatedly called for a general election, but having voted against going to the polls twice in recent weeks.
Labour and other opposition parties have set out their determination to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October before supporting a general election.
With his brother Jo Johnson having recently quit as a government minister due to his opposition to Brexit policy – and his sister Rachel Johnson having attacked his “highly reprehensible” comments in the House of Commons last week – the prime minister admitted to “divisions in my family”.
But Mr Johnson revealed “the ace up my sleeve” of how his mother, Charlotte, joined him in voting Leave in 2016.
In a staunch defence of a free-market economy, Mr Johnson spoke of “creating the economic platform for dynamic free market capitalism.”
He added: “Yes, you heard it right; capitalism. And when did you last hear a Tory leader talk about capitalism?
“We are the party of the NHS precisely because we are the party of capitalism.
“Not because we shun it, or despise it. And we understand the vital symmetry at the heart of the modern British economy between a dynamic enterprise culture and great public services.”
Concluding his speech, Mr Johnson issued a rallying cry to Tory members ahead of a possible general election.
“Let’s get on with sensible moderate one nation but tax-cutting Tory government and figuratively if not literally let us send Jeremy Corbyn into orbit where he belongs,” he said.
“Let’s get Brexit done. Let’s bring our country together.”
Responding to Mr Johnson’s speech, Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “The Brexit proposals reportedly being considered by Boris Johnson are neither credible nor workable.
“They are a cynical attempt to force through a no-deal Brexit.”
