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Brexit: Boris Johnson heckled in Rotherham over suspension of parliament – live news Brexit: Boris Johnson heckled in Rotherham over suspension of parliament – live news
(41 minutes later)
In the Q&A with journalists the best questions came from ITV’s Paul Brand. He asked:
You’ve got five weeks left to get a Brexit deal, can you update us on what you think is the latest probability of finding an agreement that the DUP can get behind? And secondly, you called David Cameron ‘a girly swot’, are you a little bit be worried what he might call you in his upcoming memoirs?
On the first part Johnson replied:
On where we are with Brexit, I think people do deserve to know what’s going on. We’re working incredibly hard to get a deal, there is the rough shape of a deal to be done. I myself have been to talk to various other EU leaders, particularly in Germany, in France, and in Ireland, where we made a good deal of progress. I’m seeing a president of the Commission, and the chief negotiator, Michel Barnier on Monday, and we’ll talk about the ideas that we’ve been working on. And we’ll see where we get. I’m cautiously optimistic. But whatever happens we will come out on October 31st.
To the second he said:
Absolutely nothing that David Cameron says in his memoirs, in the course of the next few days, will diminish the affection and respect in which I hold him. Not least for what he did in turning this country around, after Labour left it bankrupt, and delivering a jobs miracle in the UK, record low unemployment. I think he has a very distinguished record and a legacy to be proud of.
While Johnson was speaking, Scotalnd Yard announced that no further action will be taken against Leave.EU, the Brexit campaign founded by businessman Arron Banks and spearheaded by Nigel Farage.
A Met statement said:
“On 5 August 2019 the MPS submitted a file to the CPS for Early Investigative Advice in relation to the Leave.EU investigation and this advice has now been received.
“It is clear that whilst some technical breaches of electoral law were committed by Leave.EU in respect of the spending return submitted for their campaign, there is insufficient evidence to justify any further criminal investigation.
“Leave.EU’s responsible person has been has been told that they will face no further police action.”
The force said investigations into the spending returns of Vote Leave and BeLeave were ongoing.
Here’s a fuller transcript of Johnson’s response to both the heckler and a question from a journalist about how he can deliver various promises when he can’t get an election and Brexit done.
Johnson said:
I certainly won’t be deterred by anybody from our goal of coming out of the EU on October 31st. I think the people of this country want us to get Brexit done. But I also won’t be deterred with getting on with our domestic agenda.
I’m a passionate believer in devolution and in giving power to strong local leaders to champion their areas and to be accountable for their transport networks. Whatever the shenanigans that maybe going on at Westminster we will get on with delivering our agenda and preparing to take this country out of the EU on October 31st. And there will be ample time for Parliament to consider the deal that I very much hope to do at the EU summit on October 17th and 18th.
To the gentlemen who left prematurely, not necessarily under his own steam, that is the answer to his question.
To have a Queen’s speech and to set out our domestic agenda, we’ve lost about four days of parliamentary sitting time. There’s ample time for Parliament to consider not just Brexit but all kinds of things both before and after the European Council on October 17th so lets get on an do it.
Q: You called David Cameron a ‘girly swot’ are you worried about what he’ll say in his memoirs?
Nothing Cameron writes in his memoirs diminish the affection and respect in which I hold him, Johnson says.
Q: What’s the probability of a Brexit deal?Q: What’s the probability of a Brexit deal?
We’re working incredibly hard. We’ve made a good deal of progress, he says. “We’ll see where we get” on Monday. “I’m cautiously optimistic, but whatever happens we will come out on October 31st.”We’re working incredibly hard. We’ve made a good deal of progress, he says. “We’ll see where we get” on Monday. “I’m cautiously optimistic, but whatever happens we will come out on October 31st.”
Q: Will you commit to mass transit system in Leeds?Q: Will you commit to mass transit system in Leeds?
Oh God, Johnson said. I want to do it, Leeds should have a mass transit system, but I’m not going to commit to a budget to it today.Oh God, Johnson said. I want to do it, Leeds should have a mass transit system, but I’m not going to commit to a budget to it today.
Q: Are you committed to Yorkshire devolution.Q: Are you committed to Yorkshire devolution.
Further work needs to be done on that Johnson says, acknowledging different views.Further work needs to be done on that Johnson says, acknowledging different views.
Q: Why has Sheffield been underfunded?Q: Why has Sheffield been underfunded?
I’ve just but £3.6bn into towns, Johnson says before admitted it won’t apply to Sheffield. I’m reluctant to make more spending commitments.I’ve just but £3.6bn into towns, Johnson says before admitted it won’t apply to Sheffield. I’m reluctant to make more spending commitments.
Q: Do you still think police forces are ‘spaffing up the wall’ on abuse allegations?Q: Do you still think police forces are ‘spaffing up the wall’ on abuse allegations?
That’s not what I said, Johnson said. I want to see police officers fighting crime, he added.That’s not what I said, Johnson said. I want to see police officers fighting crime, he added.
Fact check by my boss:Fact check by my boss:
Boris Johnson tells reporter from Rotherham Advertiser he didn't say money spent on investigations into historic child abuse was "spaffed up the wall". This must be an imposter then...https://t.co/HY6TGJ5bliBoris Johnson tells reporter from Rotherham Advertiser he didn't say money spent on investigations into historic child abuse was "spaffed up the wall". This must be an imposter then...https://t.co/HY6TGJ5bli
Q: Why did you delay the domestic abuse bill?Q: Why did you delay the domestic abuse bill?
The bill is certainly going to be carried over. It will right there in the Queen’s speech, Johnson says.The bill is certainly going to be carried over. It will right there in the Queen’s speech, Johnson says.
In the Q&A Johnson says political uncertainty won’t put him off getting Brexit done by 31 October. He also repeats that there will be “ample time” to debate Brexit, in response to the heckler.In the Q&A Johnson says political uncertainty won’t put him off getting Brexit done by 31 October. He also repeats that there will be “ample time” to debate Brexit, in response to the heckler.
Johnson confirms plans to devolve transport to regions in the north. “It is time for the north to run its own trains,” he says. This will involve powers over fares, stations and rolling stock, Johnson says.Johnson confirms plans to devolve transport to regions in the north. “It is time for the north to run its own trains,” he says. This will involve powers over fares, stations and rolling stock, Johnson says.
The arrangement will involve a partnership between the railways and the north.The arrangement will involve a partnership between the railways and the north.
Johnson comes up with a better joke about pacer trains.Johnson comes up with a better joke about pacer trains.
Boris Johnson on Pacers: “I love buses but not when they are supposed to be trains.”Boris Johnson on Pacers: “I love buses but not when they are supposed to be trains.”
Here’s video of that heckler:Here’s video of that heckler:
“Get back to Parliament” shouts protester at Boris Johnson speech. pic.twitter.com/Eb3LPm1foO“Get back to Parliament” shouts protester at Boris Johnson speech. pic.twitter.com/Eb3LPm1foO
Helen Pidd, who is in Rotherham, says the heckler was promptly thrown out.Helen Pidd, who is in Rotherham, says the heckler was promptly thrown out.
Heckler just thrown out of the Convention of the North for heckling Boris Johnson, telling him to get back to parliament and listen to MPs.Heckler just thrown out of the Convention of the North for heckling Boris Johnson, telling him to get back to parliament and listen to MPs.