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Tory leadership: Boris Johnson launches campaign to be next prime minister – live news Tory leadership: Boris Johnson launches campaign to be next prime minister – live news
(32 minutes later)
The press conference is now over. There were plenty of other journalists wanting to answer questions, but Boris Johnson would not take them.
PMQs starts in 10 minutes. I almost always cover PMQs live, but for the next half an hour or so I will focus instead on unpacking the Johnson launch, with a summary, analysis and reaction.
I will pick up highlights from PMQs later.
Q: [From my colleague Heather Stewart] You have promised to leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal. Will you commit to resign if you fail to meet that deadline?
Johnson says he understands why MPs are trying today to block a no-deal Brexit.
But there is a real existential threat to the government if it does not get this done.
It will be very difficult for MPs if they fail to deliver Brexit.
It was right to have a referendum. The people delivered a clear answer.
If MPs block it, they will “reap the whirlwind’.
He says he is just saying to colleagues, let’s get this done.
He says he is not going to pretend it will be “plain sailing”.
His team will work flat out. He thinks he will get the result he needs.
If there has been one failing, it is that the UK has not made enough of the future partnership with the EU.
Not enough has been done to promote “a new Europeanism, and a new Conservative sense of Europeanism”.
He says some bilateral relationships have declined. Language teaching has declined.
It is time to intensify those partnerships, he says.
Johnson refuses to commit to resigning if UK still in EU after October.
Q: [From the Financial Times’ George Parker] You famously said “f- business”. What do you say to FT readers worried about this? And why did you say it?
Johnson says he loves the FT. He has the app, and reads it every day. He says he thought the anti-banking stance taken by some after the crash was “disastrous”. And not everyone in financial services is wealthy.
As mayor, he had to sell the UK abroad.
If he is PM, there will be no more committed salesperson for the UK.
Q: Can we sort out this drugs question. You told GC you had taken cocaine as a student. Were you telling the truth?
Johnson says he was 19 at the time. The “canonical account” of this has appeared many times. He says he is focusing on his vision for the future.
He says he does not want to be blown off track. Let’s focus on what Conservatism is, and what it can do.
And they also want a leader who can fight off Jeremy Corbyn, and the Brexit party.
Johnson refuses to confirm whether he took cocaine as a student.
Q: Have you done anything illegal? And do you regret any of the mistakes that you have made? Would you change as PM?
Johnson says he cannot swear that he has always observed the 70mph speed limit.
But is he someone who does what he promises to do as a politician? And the answer is yes.
We said we would do X. And we did X plus 10.
He says knife crime was a big problem when he became mayor. He had to take tough decisions. He says Kit Malthouse and James Cleverly, two MPs now backing him who worked for him as mayor, took tough decisions.
He says stop and search was successful. There is nothing kinder you can do than take a knife off a young person, he says.
He says there was a 32% reduction in serious youth violence when he was mayor.
He says politicians should get behind the police, and support them properly.
Q: Many of you colleagues worry about your character ..Q: Many of you colleagues worry about your character ..
My parrotMy parrot
Q: Your character. Alistair Burt said you brought shame on this country when you described Muslim women as pillar boxes. People who have worked with you do not think you are fit to be PM.Q: Your character. Alistair Burt said you brought shame on this country when you described Muslim women as pillar boxes. People who have worked with you do not think you are fit to be PM.
Johnson says some of his colleagues do back him.Johnson says some of his colleagues do back him.
But he wants to address the point. Sometimes “plaster comes off the ceiling” when he says things. But people feel alienated from politicians because they think they are “muffling and veiling” their language.But he wants to address the point. Sometimes “plaster comes off the ceiling” when he says things. But people feel alienated from politicians because they think they are “muffling and veiling” their language.
If he causes offence, he is sorry for that. But he will continue to speak as directly as he can.If he causes offence, he is sorry for that. But he will continue to speak as directly as he can.
Johnson says he will take six questions.Johnson says he will take six questions.
Q: You said Brexit would be easy, and it wasn’t. You have a reputation for making mistakes. You are telling leavers one thing and remainers another. Can the country trust you?Q: You said Brexit would be easy, and it wasn’t. You have a reputation for making mistakes. You are telling leavers one thing and remainers another. Can the country trust you?
Yes, says Johnson.Yes, says Johnson.
He rejects the claim that he is inconsistent on Brexit.He rejects the claim that he is inconsistent on Brexit.
He does not want no-deal, but he wants to prepare for no-deal. The best way to avoid no-deal is to make the preparations now for it, he say.He does not want no-deal, but he wants to prepare for no-deal. The best way to avoid no-deal is to make the preparations now for it, he say.
He says this is the way to get a deal.He says this is the way to get a deal.
He says the team he is building will “hit the ground running”.He says the team he is building will “hit the ground running”.
They will engage with the EU in the “friendliest possible way”. And he says he thinks they will respond in a symmetric way.They will engage with the EU in the “friendliest possible way”. And he says he thinks they will respond in a symmetric way.
Johnson says he knows the Labour London left.Johnson says he knows the Labour London left.
He knows their obsessions.He knows their obsessions.
Jeremy Corbyn is far to the left of Ken Livingstone (who Johnson beat twice in London mayoral elections), Johnson says.Jeremy Corbyn is far to the left of Ken Livingstone (who Johnson beat twice in London mayoral elections), Johnson says.
He says Corbyn is a fundamental threat to our values and our way of life.He says Corbyn is a fundamental threat to our values and our way of life.
Johnson claims he has campaigned in almost every seat in the country.Johnson claims he has campaigned in almost every seat in the country.
He will do anything he can to stop the government of the UK passing into the hands of Labour, who have disdain for wealth creation and who would compromise the government’s ability to fund the NHS.He will do anything he can to stop the government of the UK passing into the hands of Labour, who have disdain for wealth creation and who would compromise the government’s ability to fund the NHS.
He says he last defeated this sort of leftwinger when the Tories were 17-points behind in London.He says he last defeated this sort of leftwinger when the Tories were 17-points behind in London.
This is the opening salvo in a battle to protect the country, he says.This is the opening salvo in a battle to protect the country, he says.
Johnson says he has seen the UK’s partners want it to recover its self-belief.Johnson says he has seen the UK’s partners want it to recover its self-belief.
He says he does not underestimate the challenges lying ahead.He says he does not underestimate the challenges lying ahead.
But he has real experience managing short-term difficulties on the road to long-term success.But he has real experience managing short-term difficulties on the road to long-term success.
He took London through riots and strikes, and he oversaw the Olympics.He took London through riots and strikes, and he oversaw the Olympics.
He shrank the opportunity gap.He shrank the opportunity gap.
And he wants to do for the whole country what he did for London.And he wants to do for the whole country what he did for London.
In everything he does he will seek to strengthen the union - this “awesome foursome” that makes the UK a “softpower superpower”, Johnson says.In everything he does he will seek to strengthen the union - this “awesome foursome” that makes the UK a “softpower superpower”, Johnson says.
Johnson says he cut crime. That helped the poorest families, because they suffer disproportionately from crime, he says.Johnson says he cut crime. That helped the poorest families, because they suffer disproportionately from crime, he says.
And he was able to do this while championing wealth creators. At one point he was the only person in the country speaking up for the financial sector, he says.And he was able to do this while championing wealth creators. At one point he was the only person in the country speaking up for the financial sector, he says.
He says he wants a “sizzling synergy” that can promote growth.He says he wants a “sizzling synergy” that can promote growth.
He says he wants no town, no community, and no person left behind.He says he wants no town, no community, and no person left behind.
Johnson says the economy is achieving Grand Prix speeds without firing on all cylinders.
He says it is important to unite the country. Parts of the UK feel left behind. We need better infrastructure. Spain has must better hi-speed broadband. Leeds has no metro rail. This is madness, he says.
He says the “fundamental moral purpose” of the government should be to bridge not just the wealth gap but the opportunity gap.
He says he can do this because he achieved this in London. When he took office as mayor, London had four of the six poorest areas in the country. By the time he left, it had none in the poorest 20.
Johnson says the EU do not want no-deal “any more than I do”.
Delay means defeat, delay means Corbyn.
Kick the can again and we kick the bucket.
The Tories’s natural supporters would go to other parties if Brexit were delayed. And all voters would despair at Wesminster being able to deliver anything.
Johnson says there would be an overwhelming sense of relief if Brexit were to happen by the end of October. People would start to focus on other things.
Johnson says the leave vote was not just about democracy or immigration.
People wanted to be heard, he says. They wanted to feel they too could be part of this country.
They wanted to know that their concerns were as important to the country’s leaders as those of any “metropolitan tech guru”.
After three years and two missed deadlines, we must leave the EU on October 31.
Johnson reaffirms his commitment to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October.
He stresses he is not aiming for no-deal. But he says it would be irresponsible to rule it out.
Boris Johnson is speaking now.
He says the economy has grown since the Brexit vote. The “commercial dynamism” of the British people has insulated them from the crisis of our politics.
But around the country there is a mood of disillusion, or even despair, about our ability to get things done.
He says people want clarity and a resolution. That is our mission today.
Geoffrey Cox, the Brexiter attorney general, is introducing Boris Johnson at his launch.
He says, when choosing the next leader, he has had to consider some ‘indispensable requirements”.
First, these are “extraordinary times, and we need a personality big enough, strong enough to rise to the political challenge” the country faces.
Second, we need someone who can provide leadership. A “managerial approach” will not suffice.
(That amounts to saying Jeremy Hunt would be too dull.)
Cox says the new leader must want the UK to be independent of the EU.
Third, the new leader must be able to pull together a brilliant team.
And, finally, the new leader must be able to unite the Conservative party and outfight Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage in any corner of the country.
That is why he is proud to back Boris Johnson, Cox says.
This story, by the Financial Times’ George Parker, may come up at the Johnson launch.
Breaking:Cabinet note (from late May) shared with the FT reveals that Whitehall is not ready for No Deal in Octoberhttps://t.co/cO32ZZpBti pic.twitter.com/qfPBQj3tNl
The story starts:
Boris Johnson’s promise to take Britain out of the EU with or without a deal on the scheduled Brexit date of October 31 has been undermined by a confidential cabinet note warning that the country is still far from prepared for the disruption of a disorderly exit.
The note, seen by the Financial Times, says the government needs six to eight months of engagement with the pharmaceutical industry “to ensure adequate arrangements are in place to build stockpiles of medicines by October 31”.
It also says that it would take “at least 4-5 months” to improve trader readiness for the new border checks that might be required, including the provision of financial incentives to encourage exporters and importers to register for new schemes.
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
Boris Johnson launch about to start - live on @BBCnews - whatever happens next his team has done quite some job getting all shades of tory party in the room - from Mogg and Francois to Brokenshire and rising ministers like Dowden and Frazer - it’s some coalition
Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has said that he does not think Boris Johnson would be able to deliver on his promise to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October, MLex’s Matthew Holehouse reports.
Hammond says Boris plan for Oct 31 won't happen. "I dont think so. I think it's not sensible for candidates to box themselves in. Parliament won't allow a no-deal exit and it may not be that easy to agree a deal in parliament." Adds: "very difficult or impossible."
Candidates like Boris can "test this for themselves" but the EU won't reopen the deal. Hammond has told Japanese business no-deal is no more likely. "Parliament isn't going to change its position that it wont licence no-deal."
Hammond also said that taking the UK out of the EU by 31 October would be “impossible” and that trying to implement this policy would not be in the national interest.
From the Tory MP Zac Goldsmith
The audience here for Boris’s launch demonstrates beyond doubt that his is the only campaign that has drawn support from every part of the Conservative Party. He will unite the party and the country.
The leading French newspaper Le Monde has an editorial saying it does not want to see Boris Johnson as prime minister, Le Monde’s Philippe Bernard reports.
Boris Johnson à la tête du Royaume-Uni ? Non merci ! L’éditorial du Monde. https://t.co/p3LfifEYof via @lemondefr