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Brexit: Boris Johnson gives speech after brother Jo quits citing 'national interest'– live news Boris Johnson says he would rather 'be dead in a ditch' than delay Brexit, in rambling speech – live news
(32 minutes later)
Q: Corbyn says he cannot trust you to have an election before the EU summit in October?
Johnson claims this is a new charge.
He says he wants an election on 15 October. “Earlier if he wants ... let’s crack on with it.” He says he does not see how the UK’s negotiating position can be torpedoed.
One of the police officers standing behind Johnson has just stood down. She seems to be feeling faint or ill. Johnson expresses some concern, and then winds up his remarks.
As Johnson is winding up, the officer stands up again.
And that’s it.
I will post a verdict and summary shortly.
Q: Are you planning an all-Ireland regime for agri-foods?Q: Are you planning an all-Ireland regime for agri-foods?
Johnson says there is the germ of a solution to the backstop problem in the late Ian Paisley comment about the Northern Irish being British, but their cattle being Irish.Johnson says there is the germ of a solution to the backstop problem in the late Ian Paisley comment about the Northern Irish being British, but their cattle being Irish.
But he says what is crucial is the idea of democratic control by the people of the UK.But he says what is crucial is the idea of democratic control by the people of the UK.
Q: When are you going to have an inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative party, as you promised in the BBC TV debate?Q: When are you going to have an inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative party, as you promised in the BBC TV debate?
Johnson says he will have an inquiry into all kinds of racism in the party. He does not say when it will start.Johnson says he will have an inquiry into all kinds of racism in the party. He does not say when it will start.
Q: Do you regret the purge of MPs?Q: Do you regret the purge of MPs?
Johnson says the bill passed yesterday will make it harder for him to get a Brexit deal.Johnson says the bill passed yesterday will make it harder for him to get a Brexit deal.
Under this plan, Brussels would decide how long the UK stayed in the EU. He says he cannot see how that is democratic.Under this plan, Brussels would decide how long the UK stayed in the EU. He says he cannot see how that is democratic.
(Actually, the bill does not say that. The UK would get the final say. More details here.)(Actually, the bill does not say that. The UK would get the final say. More details here.)
Discipline is sometimes tough, he says.Discipline is sometimes tough, he says.
Q: Can you promise not to go back to Brussels and ask for an extension?Q: Can you promise not to go back to Brussels and ask for an extension?
Yes, says Johnson.Yes, says Johnson.
I would rather be dead in a ditch.I would rather be dead in a ditch.
He says an extension would cost £1bn a month and be “totally pointless”.He says an extension would cost £1bn a month and be “totally pointless”.
Q: You said you would unite the country when you became leader. But you are now splitting your own party, and your own brother won’t even support you.Q: You said you would unite the country when you became leader. But you are now splitting your own party, and your own brother won’t even support you.
Johnson says people disagree about Brexit. But the way to unite this country is to get this done, he says.Johnson says people disagree about Brexit. But the way to unite this country is to get this done, he says.
Q: Shouldn’t you be next to resign?Q: Shouldn’t you be next to resign?
Johnson says MPs said they would respect the referendum.Johnson says MPs said they would respect the referendum.
He says there is a stark contrast between his approach and Jeremy Corbyn’s. He says they are making it impossible for the country to leave the EU, and for the country to have an election. He says Corbyn must be the first opposition lead to oppose an election. That goes against his job description, he says.He says there is a stark contrast between his approach and Jeremy Corbyn’s. He says they are making it impossible for the country to leave the EU, and for the country to have an election. He says Corbyn must be the first opposition lead to oppose an election. That goes against his job description, he says.
Q: Aren’t people entitled to ask, if your own brother can’t back you, why should anyone else?Q: Aren’t people entitled to ask, if your own brother can’t back you, why should anyone else?
Johnson says his brother Jo is fantastic guy and was a fantastic minister for science. (His most recent job was universitiies minister.)Johnson says his brother Jo is fantastic guy and was a fantastic minister for science. (His most recent job was universitiies minister.)
He says Jo wants the government to sort Brexit out.He says Jo wants the government to sort Brexit out.
And he says Jo has said this afternoon that he supports his domestic policies. (See 3.10pm.)And he says Jo has said this afternoon that he supports his domestic policies. (See 3.10pm.)
Johnson is now talking about Brexit.Johnson is now talking about Brexit.
He says he will take the UK out by 31 October.He says he will take the UK out by 31 October.
Or someone else would have to take over. But that is not the best course, he says.Or someone else would have to take over. But that is not the best course, he says.
He says an election should decide.He says an election should decide.
He says he “hates banging on about Brexit”.He says he “hates banging on about Brexit”.
I don’t want an election at all ... But frankly I don’t see any other way.I don’t want an election at all ... But frankly I don’t see any other way.
He says people must choose between sending him or Jeremy Corbyn to the Brussels summit in October.He says people must choose between sending him or Jeremy Corbyn to the Brussels summit in October.
He apologises for bringing “this painful subject” up.He apologises for bringing “this painful subject” up.
People do not want to see politicians going on about Brexit, he says.People do not want to see politicians going on about Brexit, he says.
He says they want to see politicians focusing on people’s concerns, like policing.He says they want to see politicians focusing on people’s concerns, like policing.
But we must, must, must settle this EU debate.But we must, must, must settle this EU debate.
Policing is “the top priority of this government”, he says.Policing is “the top priority of this government”, he says.
My colleague Jessica Elgot is not impressed.My colleague Jessica Elgot is not impressed.
Can he be cautioned for wasting police time?Can he be cautioned for wasting police time?
Johnson asks police what the police caution is.Johnson asks police what the police caution is.
None of them read it out to him, so he tries to recite it himself. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be taken down as evidence and used in evidence against you.None of them read it out to him, so he tries to recite it himself. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be taken down as evidence and used in evidence against you.
(Except Johnson does not say it coherently. He stumbles, and gives up half way through. Is he expecting someone to help him out? It is not clear, but it looks as though he has given no thought at all to what he wants to say.)(Except Johnson does not say it coherently. He stumbles, and gives up half way through. Is he expecting someone to help him out? It is not clear, but it looks as though he has given no thought at all to what he wants to say.)
Boris Johnson is speaking now.Boris Johnson is speaking now.
He says today is the launch of his programme to recruit a large number of extra police officers.He says today is the launch of his programme to recruit a large number of extra police officers.
He wants to deliver on the priorities of the British people.He wants to deliver on the priorities of the British people.
He says he hopes people saw the spending announcement yesterday.He says he hopes people saw the spending announcement yesterday.
In his view, policing is the bedrock of society. It is what gives people the confidence to grow the economy.In his view, policing is the bedrock of society. It is what gives people the confidence to grow the economy.
He says he used to be mayor of London, crime commissioner for London.He says he used to be mayor of London, crime commissioner for London.
The most important thing politicians can do is back the police.The most important thing politicians can do is back the police.
It is up to politicians to provide “top cover” for the police, he says.It is up to politicians to provide “top cover” for the police, he says.
More from my colleague Kate Proctor at the Boris Johnson speechMore from my colleague Kate Proctor at the Boris Johnson speech
Boris is so late for his speech... Surely these police officers need to get back on the beat/get home for their tea. The smiles are fading... pic.twitter.com/SXNUMHPbxuBoris is so late for his speech... Surely these police officers need to get back on the beat/get home for their tea. The smiles are fading... pic.twitter.com/SXNUMHPbxu
And this is from the New Statesman’s Patrick Maguire.And this is from the New Statesman’s Patrick Maguire.
Get you a prime minister who treats the country like the Telegraph comment desk https://t.co/JRREXhsAqWGet you a prime minister who treats the country like the Telegraph comment desk https://t.co/JRREXhsAqW
At the Daily Telegraph Johnson was notorious for always filing his column very, very, very late.At the Daily Telegraph Johnson was notorious for always filing his column very, very, very late.
NHS trusts in Kent have block-booked hotel rooms for staff who may not be able to get into work because the country’s roads are gridlocked if there is a no-deal Brexit.NHS trusts in Kent have block-booked hotel rooms for staff who may not be able to get into work because the country’s roads are gridlocked if there is a no-deal Brexit.
Health service bosses have also discussed with the police using them to get patients through unusually heavy traffic to hospitals in Ashford and Canterbury, which are near the ports of Dover and Folkestone, the Health Service Journal reports today.Health service bosses have also discussed with the police using them to get patients through unusually heavy traffic to hospitals in Ashford and Canterbury, which are near the ports of Dover and Folkestone, the Health Service Journal reports today.
East Kent University Hospitals NHS trust, which runs the two hospitals, confirmed to HSJ that it has “booked a small number of hotel rooms close to our emergency hospitals as a precautionary measure, for an initial two-week period [after 31 October]”. The William Harvey hospital near Ashford, which is the area’s main trauma centre - where the most seriously injured patients are treated - “is particularly vulnerable because it is located just off the M20, which is already facing significant delays and disruption due to long-term upgrade work”, HSJ adds.East Kent University Hospitals NHS trust, which runs the two hospitals, confirmed to HSJ that it has “booked a small number of hotel rooms close to our emergency hospitals as a precautionary measure, for an initial two-week period [after 31 October]”. The William Harvey hospital near Ashford, which is the area’s main trauma centre - where the most seriously injured patients are treated - “is particularly vulnerable because it is located just off the M20, which is already facing significant delays and disruption due to long-term upgrade work”, HSJ adds.