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Boris Johnson's first speech as prime minister: 'No ifs, no buts - out on 31 October' – live news Boris Johnson cabinet: Sajid Javid, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab given top jobs – live news
(about 2 hours later)
It has been confirmed that David Frost, the former British ambassador to Denmark and former head of the Europe division at the Foreign Office, is joining Boris Johnson’s Brexit team. The last person to combine being foreign secretary with first secretary of state was William Hague, who used to deputise for David Cameron at PMQs.
Jeff Adams, chairman of the board of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where Frost currently works issued this statement. Presumably Dominic Raab will do the same for Boris Johnson.
With the agreement of our Board, LCCI has agreed to release David Frost from his contract as CEO to take-up a position with the new government. MPs being MPs, Tories have probably started already speculating about who their next leader will be. This reshuffle suggests Raab is being lined up as heir apparent.
The reasons that Prime Minister Johnson has invited David to serve in government are why LCCI was so keen to bring David in as our chief executive earlier this year. This is from the new chancellor.
David’s diplomatic, international trade, and business experience is extensive. LCCI has no doubt he will be a key asset to the UK in the next stage of the Brexit negotiations. Deeply honoured to be appointed Chancellor by PM @BorisJohnson. Looking forward to working with @hmtreasury to prepare for leaving the EU, unifying our country and priming our economy for the incredible opportunities that lie ahead.
We wish him all the best in the new role, and he knows from his time with us that London, like all the chambers in our national network, are keen to see a Brexit scenario that ensures businesses will be able to continue to flourish and grow. This is from Liz Truss - who had hoped for one of these top jobs herself.
Here is the start of a Downing Street email that has just been sent to lobby journalists. It’s the first official communique I’ve received with the phrase “Prime Minister Boris Johnson” in it. It really has happened ... Excellent appointments for the Great Offices of State. @sajidjavid, @patel4witham and @DominicRaab all modern, positive, free-enterprise Conservatives.
I will post a summary/analysis of the speech shortly. Dominic Raab has been appointed foreign secretary and first secretary of state.
Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, has released the text of his letter to Boris Johnson. First secretary of state is a title sometimes given to a minister by the PM. Damian Green was the last person to hold the post. It means Dominic Raab, who was Brexit secretary until he resigned at the end of last year because he was opposed to the withdrawal agreement, is effectively deputy prime minister (unless Boris Johnson surprises us all and appoints an actual deputy prime minister).
It is remarkably short, and curt. It conveys a strong undertone of: “See me in my study at 10am Monday.” There is no doubt about who’s thinks they’re boss. Priti Patel is the new home secretary.
My letter of congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson: https://t.co/Pw7zg5mw4h pic.twitter.com/ihEqcD7KNv The Rt Hon Priti Patel @patel4witham has been appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department @ukhomeoffice pic.twitter.com/O5PCExDg8O
From the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn The Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has invited Boris Johnson to a “one to one” meeting, the first premier in Europe to do so. Interviewed on RTÉ Six One TV news, Varadkar said he wanted an “orderly” exit but warned that Ireland’s red lines over the Irish border “have not changed”. He said:
I hear Dominic Raab is Boris's first choice for Home Secretary. Let's see how the reshuffle pans out. These are the kind of things we have to discuss. I look forward to having the opportunity to sit down one to one and for our teams to meet and to see if they can put a little detail behind those slogans and statements.
The best soundbite in Boris Johnson’s speech was the one about how people who bet against Britain lose their shirts. He liked it so much he used it twice. He’s a new prime minister and he’s only a few hours in office. Our job is to look out for the best interests of Ireland, the best for the EU, of which we are part, and to try and work with whoever is the British prime minister of the day.
It sounded familiar. Bill Clinton said almost the same thing in his speech to the 2012 Democratic convention (one of the best political speeches of modern times). In his peroration Clinton said: Sajid Javid is the new chancellor, No 10 has confirmed.
Look, I love our country so much. And I know we’re coming back. For more than 200 years, through every crisis, we’ve always come back. (Cheers.) People have predicted our demise ever since George Washington was criticised for being a mediocre surveyor with a bad set of wooden false teeth. (Laughter.) And so far, every single person that’s bet against America has lost money because we always come back. (Cheers, applause.) We come through ever fire a little stronger and a little better. This is officially the biggest clear out of Cabinet without a change of party in power - more than half of them gone - not a reshuffle it’s a new govt
The UK should be outward-looking, he says. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson made her feelings about Boris Johnson’s sacking of the Scottish secretary, David Mundell, immediately and abundantly clear. Describing his work at the Scotland Office as “exemplary”, the warmly-worded statement appears to contrast Mundell’s personal style with that of Johnson, saying:
He says no one has succeeded in betting against Britain. While David chooses to conduct himself publicly in a typically understated manner, his strategic brain has been at the heart of the rebuilding project of the Scottish Conservatives.
The work begins now, he says. On a personal level, David handled his coming out as the Conservatives’ first openly gay cabinet minister with customary care and grace.
And that’s it. Davidson is not a woman to pick a fight with, and Johnson just has.
Johnson says we should look at the opportunities. Jeremy Wright, the culture minister, has also been sacked, according to the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn.
Let’s get going on things like free ports, he says. Yet another: Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright has been sacked.
He call for more UK satellites. And here is his tally of the reshuffle so far.
He calls for tax breaks for innovation. What we know so far: half the Cabinet - 16 - have gone in the most brutal reshuffle in decades.Sacked (10, so far):HuntMordauntFox Clark HindsBradleyWrightMundellBrokenshire NokesResigned (4): Hammond GaukeStewartPerryRetired (2):GraylingLidington
And let’s do something for animal welfare. Mel Stride’s short cabinet career is over. He was leader of the Commons, but only for two months. He replaced Andrea Leadsom when she quit after Theresa May floated the idea of including a second referendum in the EU withdrawal agreement bill.
(That sounds like a sop to his partner, Carrie Symonds, an environmental campaigner.) Stride voted remain in 2016, of course ...
He says his message to the Irish is that he is confident we can get a deal, without the undemocratic backstop. Huge honour to have served as Lord President and Leader of the House. Looking forward to continuing to support my constituents and our PM from backbenches. Huge thanks to all who supported me so brilliantly during my 5 yrs in govt - in the whips office, HMT and in Leader’s Office
But he must prepare for the “remote possibility” of there being no deal, he says. Jeremy Corbyn has issued this statement about Boris Johnson’s speech earlier. Corbyn said:
(That is not the same as a million-to-one possibility, which was how he put it a few weeks ago.) After nine years of cuts to our schools, police and councils, the country deserves better than Boris Johnson’s empty bluster.
Johnson says no-deal Brexit is a “remote possibility”. The new prime minister’s priority is more tax giveaways for the richest and big businesses, not support for our public services.
He says, if there is no-deal, the UK will have its £39bn. The prime minister has no plan for Brexit and is staking everything on a sweetheart trade deal with Donald Trump which would risk the takeover of our NHS by US corporations.
Yes, there will be difficulties if there is no-deal, he says. A Labour government can stop Boris Johnson and bring an end to austerity, tackle the climate emergency and invest in our communities. We need a general election and a Labour government that works for the many, not the privileged few.
But his message to business is that it is not the decisions that are causing problems, but the refusal to take decisions.
Johnson says the union flag stands for values, including equality and democracy.
That is why the government will deliver Brexit – people voted for it, and the decision must be respected.
He says he wants a new partnership with the EU.
His first step is to thank the EU nationals working in the UK.
Under his government, they will have the absolute right to remain.
Johnson says he wants to unite the country.
He says he wants to level up.
It is time to unleash the productive power of the whole of the UK - the “awesome foursome” that is the whole of the UK.
The UK is more than the sum of its parts, he says. It is loved through the world.
Johnson says he will take personal responsibility.
Never mind the backstop - the buck stops here.
He says he can announce - that he will fix the crisis in social care.
(Not an election, then?)
He says he is confident that we can do this.
We will crack this in 99 days, he says.
But we won’t wait till then.
(Is he going for an early election?)
Boris Johnson is now being applauded as he walks to the podium outside Number 10.
He says the Queen has invited him to form a government and he has accepted.
He pays tribute to Theresa May. But despite all her work there are pessimists who think the UK has become a prisoner to the arguments of 2016.
Those critics - “the doubters, the gloomsters” - are wrong.
The people who bet against Britain will lose their shirts, he says.
HuffPost’s Paul Waugh has a better picture.
1st pic of @BorisJohnson partner Carrie Symonds outside No.10 pic.twitter.com/Z0qGTxmce6