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Boris Johnson wants renewal of 'ties that bind UK' Boris Johnson to 'hold out the hand' for new Brexit deal
(about 1 hour later)
Boris Johnson has called for a renewal of "the ties that bind our United Kingdom" as he makes his first visit to Scotland as prime minister. Boris Johnson has pledged to "hold out the hand" and "go the extra thousand miles" to strike a new Brexit deal.
He announced £300m of funding for projects to boost the economy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. During a visit to Scotland, the prime minister said the existing withdrawal agreement negotiated with European leaders was "dead" and has "got to go".
It comes the day after Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said she would not back his plans for a no-deal Brexit. However, he said he wanted the UK to be "very outward going" and said there was "every chance we can get a deal".
Mr Johnson has insisted the UK will leave the EU by 31 October with or without a deal. Preparations for a no-deal Brexit are being ramped up with Mr Johnson saying the UK must leave the EU by 31 October.
During his visit to the Faslane naval base, Mr Johnson set out how the latest "growth deals" plan will help communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He made the comments as part of a visit to Scotland, where he is also expected to meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson - both of whom have positioned themselves against a no-deal exit.
He is also expected to have meetings with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Ms Davidson in Edinburgh, with his Brexit strategy high on the agenda for both. Two committees have been set up as the UK government intensifies preparations for a possible no-deal exit, including a "daily operations committee" of senior ministers.
Ahead of his visit, the new prime minister said: "Our union is the most successful political and economic union in history. We are a global brand, and together we are safer, stronger and more prosperous. Speaking at the Faslane naval base near Glasgow, Mr Johnson said his "assumption is that we can get a new deal", but said it was "responsible for any government to prepare for no deal if we absolutely have to".
"So as we prepare for our bright future after Brexit, it's vital we renew the ties that bind our United Kingdom. 'Withdrawal agreement is dead'
"I'm proud to be in Scotland today to make clear that I am a passionate believer in our great union, and I look forward to visiting Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that every decision I make as prime minister promotes and strengthens our union." He said: "My approach is to be very outward-going, I don't want the UK to be aloof or hanging back, I want us to engage to hold out the hand, to go the extra thousand miles, and what we want to do is make it absolutely clear that the backstop is no good, it's dead, it's got to go.
Mr Johnson also plans to go to Wales to meet members of its farming community and Northern Ireland to discuss ongoing efforts to restore devolution at Stormont. "The withdrawal agreement is dead, it's got to go. But there is scope for us to do a new deal.
No-deal Brexit "We will make it very clear to our friends - we're talking to the Irish today - what the limits are and what we want to do. We're very confident that with goodwill on both sides, two mature political entities, the UK and EU, can get this thing done."
The prime minister's plans for Brexit will be a key feature of his talks with Ms Sturgeon and Ms Davidson, expected to take place in Edinburgh on Monday afternoon. Mr Johnson also said he thought "Brussels was a bit baffled by what the UK position really was" during previous Brexit talks, saying the "backstop" arrangement to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland would have seen the UK "being run by the EU".
Mr Johnson has said there are "no ifs, no buts" over his pledge to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October, and three new committees have been formed to ensure this happens. He said a new agreement could be struck if there was "goodwill and common sense" on both sides, resulting in "a new free trade deal that allows us to take back control of our tariffs and regulations and do things differently here if we want to".
One of them - a "daily operations committee" - is made up of senior cabinet ministers responsible for overseeing all of government's preparation for leaving, including planning for a no deal. 'I won't support it'
Meanwhile, the CBI has warned the government neither the UK nor the EU are ready for a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. Mr Johnson will face scrutiny over his Brexit strategy from colleagues and opponents alike during his visit to Scotland.
On Sunday, Ms Davidson said that while Mr Johnson had her "full support" in his efforts to secure a withdrawal agreement with the EU, she did not agree with a no-deal Brexit.On Sunday, Ms Davidson said that while Mr Johnson had her "full support" in his efforts to secure a withdrawal agreement with the EU, she did not agree with a no-deal Brexit.
Writing in the Scottish Mail on Sunday, she said: "When I was debating against the pro-Brexit side in 2016, I don't remember anybody saying we should crash out of the EU with no arrangements in place to help maintain the vital trade that flows uninterrupted between Britain and the European Union."Writing in the Scottish Mail on Sunday, she said: "When I was debating against the pro-Brexit side in 2016, I don't remember anybody saying we should crash out of the EU with no arrangements in place to help maintain the vital trade that flows uninterrupted between Britain and the European Union."
"I don't think the government should pursue a no-deal Brexit and, if it comes to it, I won't support it."
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also pledged to fight against a no-deal exit, saying it would cost 100,000 jobs and "plunge the economy into recession".Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also pledged to fight against a no-deal exit, saying it would cost 100,000 jobs and "plunge the economy into recession".
Speaking ahead of an expected meeting with Mr Johnson on Monday, she said: "The people of Scotland did not vote for this Tory government, they didn't vote for this new prime minister, they didn't vote for Brexit and they certainly didn't vote for a catastrophic no-deal Brexit which Boris Johnson is now planning for." Speaking ahead of an expected meeting with Mr Johnson on Monday, she said: "The people of Scotland did not vote for this Tory government, they didn't vote for this new prime minister, they didn't vote for Brexit and they certainly didn't vote for a catastrophic no-deal Brexit which Boris Johnson is now planning for.
The funds announced on Monday are the latest in a series of city region and growth deal agreements where the UK and Scottish governments put forward cash for investment in local projects. "Scotland has been ignored throughout the Brexit process and it is now time for everyone who cares about the future of Scotland to come together to chart our own course and say to the Tories - stop driving our country towards disaster."
These have already seen more than a billion pounds committed to economic growth and infrastructure in areas including Glasgow, Aberdeen, the Highlands, Stirling, Edinburgh, Dundee and Perth. 'Passionate believer'
This will now be expanded with funding going to Falkirk, the islands and Argyll and Bute in Scotland, as well as to parts of Northern Ireland and Wales. Mr Johnson also used his trip to Scotland to announce new funding for "growth deal" investment plans in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay claimed the £300m announced on Monday was already under negotiation before Mr Johnson became prime minister. He said it was "vital we renew the ties that bind our United Kingdom", describing himself as "a passionate believer in our great union".
"This isn't new funding," he told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme. The prime minister also plans to go to Wales to meet members of its farming community and Northern Ireland to discuss ongoing efforts to restore devolution at Stormont.
"This was all in the pipeline anyway, so it's really recycled finance which is a totally unimpressive announcement from a prime minister that wants to reset a relationship with Scotland." The funds announced on Monday will go towards projects to boost the economy in Falkirk, the islands and Argyll and Bute in Scotland, as well as to parts of Northern Ireland and Wales.
However Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay claimed the £300m "isn't new funding" and was already under negotiation before Mr Johnson became prime minister.
He said: "This was all in the pipeline anyway, so it's really recycled finance which is a totally unimpressive announcement from a prime minister that wants to reset a relationship with Scotland."
Welsh Labour also hit out at the funding plans, calling them "very thin stuff" which would not make up for a "chronic lack of investment".Welsh Labour also hit out at the funding plans, calling them "very thin stuff" which would not make up for a "chronic lack of investment".
Veterans Affairs Office
The UK government, however, insisted the money was new, with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack praising city deals as "helping to create jobs and boost local economies".The UK government, however, insisted the money was new, with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack praising city deals as "helping to create jobs and boost local economies".
Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said he looked forward to "making the most" of the funding, while Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he and Mr Johnson were committed to building on the "successes" of the growth deals already in place across Wales.Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said he looked forward to "making the most" of the funding, while Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he and Mr Johnson were committed to building on the "successes" of the growth deals already in place across Wales.
The growth deal plan comes after Mr Johnson announced a £3.6bn towns fund over the weekend, which will initially support 100 locations in England.The growth deal plan comes after Mr Johnson announced a £3.6bn towns fund over the weekend, which will initially support 100 locations in England.
As part of his visit to Scotland, the prime minister also announced plans for a new Office for Veterans' Affairs within the UK government, to coordinate medical treatment and training and "ensure no veteran is disadvantaged because of their service".As part of his visit to Scotland, the prime minister also announced plans for a new Office for Veterans' Affairs within the UK government, to coordinate medical treatment and training and "ensure no veteran is disadvantaged because of their service".
Boris Johnson's governmentBoris Johnson's government
Who is in charge of what?Who is in charge of what?