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Brexit: Boris Johnson dismisses leaked UK border plan rejected by Dublin as out-of-date - live news Brexit: Boris Johnson dismisses leaked UK border plan rejected by Dublin as out-of-date - live news
(32 minutes later)
From the Times’s Matt Chorley
Given his Uxbridge majority, perhaps it is not a surprise that Boris Johnson is keen to get a safe seat when he can. No10 insisted the PM would not sit on BBC Breakfast's wobbly bar stools*, and a high-backed chair had to be found pic.twitter.com/mLv8uD7k77
Here is Boris Johnson on the set of Today.
Prime Minister ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ says the Government is working “flat out” to get a deal on Brexit. “We will work very very hard to get this done”. #r4today pic.twitter.com/GKc0cKg3SF
Q: Do you regret any of the language you have used?
Johnson says he has to recognise that people can take offence.
Q: Has your partner, Carrie Symonds, suggested you tone it down a bit?
No, says Johnson.
He says he persists in thinking the surrender act is an appropriate term for the Benn Act. It gives the EU the power to decide how long the UK would stay in the EU.
(Actually, it doesn’t. See here, the second bullet point.)
And that’s it.
I will post a summary of the key points from all these interviews shortly.
Johnson is now back to buses, saying they can make a huge difference to people’s lives.Johnson is now back to buses, saying they can make a huge difference to people’s lives.
He wants people to be able to use contactless payments on buses across the UK.He wants people to be able to use contactless payments on buses across the UK.
Ferrari quotes some comments from David Cameron’s book about Johnson: “paranoid ... massive irritation ... full of jealousies that influenced his behaviour.”Ferrari quotes some comments from David Cameron’s book about Johnson: “paranoid ... massive irritation ... full of jealousies that influenced his behaviour.”
Johnson says he has had his up and downs in his relationship with Cameron. He says he has not read Cameron’s book.Johnson says he has had his up and downs in his relationship with Cameron. He says he has not read Cameron’s book.
Q: Did you tell David Cameron that Brexit would be crushed like a toad?Q: Did you tell David Cameron that Brexit would be crushed like a toad?
Johnson says he won’t comment on private conversations.Johnson says he won’t comment on private conversations.
Q: So it is true.Q: So it is true.
Q: What was your relationship with Jennifer Arcuri?Q: What was your relationship with Jennifer Arcuri?
Johnson claims this story is being pushed by the current mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. He says Khan has let knife crime out of control.Johnson claims this story is being pushed by the current mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. He says Khan has let knife crime out of control.
Q: Did you behave improperly with Charlotte Edwardes?Q: Did you behave improperly with Charlotte Edwardes?
No, says Johnson.No, says Johnson.
Q: Matt Hancock says he believes Edwardes. What do you say about that?Q: Matt Hancock says he believes Edwardes. What do you say about that?
Johnson says he is saying what he has to say.Johnson says he is saying what he has to say.
Q: Why are these stories coming out?Q: Why are these stories coming out?
Johnson says some intelligent people want to block Brexit. There is a “concerted effort” to stop it happening, he says.Johnson says some intelligent people want to block Brexit. There is a “concerted effort” to stop it happening, he says.
Johnson suggests misconduct allegations against him are being raised as part of an effort to block Brexit.Johnson suggests misconduct allegations against him are being raised as part of an effort to block Brexit.
Q: Are you saying these allegations are politically motivated?Q: Are you saying these allegations are politically motivated?
Johnson says he is getting a lot of “shot and shell” because he is trying to deliver Brexit.Johnson says he is getting a lot of “shot and shell” because he is trying to deliver Brexit.
And it may be an attempt to distract from his domestic agenda, he says.And it may be an attempt to distract from his domestic agenda, he says.
Q: Your sister says you are backed by currency speculators who will benefit from a no-deal Brexit.Q: Your sister says you are backed by currency speculators who will benefit from a no-deal Brexit.
Johnson says that claim is wrong. But he does not want to say more about his sister.Johnson says that claim is wrong. But he does not want to say more about his sister.
Johnson says he does not know how Naga Munchetty is, or what the story about her being reprimanded by the BBC was all about.Johnson says he does not know how Naga Munchetty is, or what the story about her being reprimanded by the BBC was all about.
Q: Have you apologised to the Queen for the unlawful prorogation?Q: Have you apologised to the Queen for the unlawful prorogation?
Johnson says it would be wrong for him to comment on his conversations with the Queen.Johnson says it would be wrong for him to comment on his conversations with the Queen.
Q; Will you prorogue parliament again?Q; Will you prorogue parliament again?
Johnson says, to have a Queen’s speech, it is necessary to prorogue. He says he will have to check the judgment to see what is possible, but he thinks prorogation is possible. He says there will be a Queen’s speech.Johnson says, to have a Queen’s speech, it is necessary to prorogue. He says he will have to check the judgment to see what is possible, but he thinks prorogation is possible. He says there will be a Queen’s speech.
Johnson says Queen’s speech will go ahead.Johnson says Queen’s speech will go ahead.
Nick Ferrari is now interviewing Boris Johnson on LBC.Nick Ferrari is now interviewing Boris Johnson on LBC.
Q: Are you likely to die in a ditch?Q: Are you likely to die in a ditch?
I hope not, says Johnson. He says he wants to get Brexit done.I hope not, says Johnson. He says he wants to get Brexit done.
Q: The FT says by the weekend you will know if the EU are going to accept your deal.Q: The FT says by the weekend you will know if the EU are going to accept your deal.
Johnson accepts that. But he says he hopes the EU will see some merit in the UK plan when they see it shortly.Johnson accepts that. But he says he hopes the EU will see some merit in the UK plan when they see it shortly.
Johnson accepts that it will be clear within days whether or not a deal is possible.Johnson accepts that it will be clear within days whether or not a deal is possible.
Q: Have you got a women problem?Q: Have you got a women problem?
Johnson says he has always been a champion of women in every organisation he has run - like City Hall and the Foreign Office.Johnson says he has always been a champion of women in every organisation he has run - like City Hall and the Foreign Office.
As foreign secretary, he promoted education for girls.As foreign secretary, he promoted education for girls.
Q: What are you saying about the Charlotte Edwardes’ allegation?Q: What are you saying about the Charlotte Edwardes’ allegation?
Johnson says he is not minimising the importance of matters like this. But this allegation is not true, he says.Johnson says he is not minimising the importance of matters like this. But this allegation is not true, he says.
Q: People who used to admire you think you have changed. Are you going to carry on like this?Q: People who used to admire you think you have changed. Are you going to carry on like this?
Johnson says, the way he sees it, he has been tasked by the British people with delivering Brexit. It is a difficult job. Many people want to prevent this. But it has to be done.Johnson says, the way he sees it, he has been tasked by the British people with delivering Brexit. It is a difficult job. Many people want to prevent this. But it has to be done.
All those who want to see the return of the old, generous-hearted mayor of London - that person has not gone away. He is a one nation Conservative, he says. But he says the only way to unite the country is to get Brexit done.All those who want to see the return of the old, generous-hearted mayor of London - that person has not gone away. He is a one nation Conservative, he says. But he says the only way to unite the country is to get Brexit done.
Johnson claims he remains at heart the “generous-hearted” Tory he was when he was mayor of London.Johnson claims he remains at heart the “generous-hearted” Tory he was when he was mayor of London.
And that’s it. The interview is over.And that’s it. The interview is over.
Johnson makes the point about being a “bus fanatic”.Johnson makes the point about being a “bus fanatic”.
Q: During the referendum you admitted that a no-deal Brexit would hit the economy. The OBR says it will be £30bn a year. So you won’t be able to afford this hospital building programme.Q: During the referendum you admitted that a no-deal Brexit would hit the economy. The OBR says it will be £30bn a year. So you won’t be able to afford this hospital building programme.
Johnson says the money is there.Johnson says the money is there.
In 10 years’ time there will be 40 new hospitals.In 10 years’ time there will be 40 new hospitals.
Q; But you are just releasing £100m for these now. The money won’t be there if there is a no-deal Brexit.Q; But you are just releasing £100m for these now. The money won’t be there if there is a no-deal Brexit.
Johnson says the money is there.Johnson says the money is there.
Johnson claims a no-deal Brexit would not derail his planned hospital building programme.Johnson claims a no-deal Brexit would not derail his planned hospital building programme.
Q: How did you feel when your sister Rachel criticised the language you used about your critics?Q: How did you feel when your sister Rachel criticised the language you used about your critics?
Johnson says disagrees with some family members on Brexit.Johnson says disagrees with some family members on Brexit.
Q: This is not about Brexit. This is about your language. Number 10 has accused your critics of “foreign collusion”.Q: This is not about Brexit. This is about your language. Number 10 has accused your critics of “foreign collusion”.
Johnson says it is worth asking how that “surrender act” came about. We have no knowledge of how that bill was produced. It was not subject to normal parliamentary processes.Johnson says it is worth asking how that “surrender act” came about. We have no knowledge of how that bill was produced. It was not subject to normal parliamentary processes.
Q: So it may be produced by foreign government?Q: So it may be produced by foreign government?
Johnson says he personally has not used the word “collaborators”.Johnson says he personally has not used the word “collaborators”.
Q: You said collaborating.Q: You said collaborating.
Johnson says there are different connotations to different words.Johnson says there are different connotations to different words.
He says no one knows how this bill was produced.He says no one knows how this bill was produced.
Johnson says staying in would cost £1bn a month.Johnson says staying in would cost £1bn a month.
Robinson says that figure is disputed - like his £350m a week figure on the Vote Leave bus.Robinson says that figure is disputed - like his £350m a week figure on the Vote Leave bus.
Johnson says that figure would be higher now.Johnson says that figure would be higher now.
Q: Are you asking EU leaders to rule out a Brexit extension?Q: Are you asking EU leaders to rule out a Brexit extension?
Johnson says he has not made any such request.Johnson says he has not made any such request.
But he says he thinks EU leaders do want this sorted.But he says he thinks EU leaders do want this sorted.
Q: You told Andrew Marr that the EU would not want the UK to stay as a “truculent” member. Are you threatening bad behaviour if we stay?Q: You told Andrew Marr that the EU would not want the UK to stay as a “truculent” member. Are you threatening bad behaviour if we stay?
Johnson says people want to leave. He says he does not think any purpose is achieved by keeping the UK in against its will.Johnson says people want to leave. He says he does not think any purpose is achieved by keeping the UK in against its will.
Q: Dominic Raab says we won’t “play nice” if we stay. Are you threatening to muck things up if kept in?Q: Dominic Raab says we won’t “play nice” if we stay. Are you threatening to muck things up if kept in?
Johnson says the UK is doing things that are not in the interests of the UK.Johnson says the UK is doing things that are not in the interests of the UK.
Q: So you will veto things they want?Q: So you will veto things they want?
Johnson says the EU see the UK as a great power. We have spent three years arguing about leaving. They want to see us leaving, and a positive relationship with us. He goes on:Johnson says the EU see the UK as a great power. We have spent three years arguing about leaving. They want to see us leaving, and a positive relationship with us. He goes on:
I am a pro-European. I actually love Europe.I am a pro-European. I actually love Europe.
Q: There are people who say you don’t want a deal. And look where your money comes from. Your donors do not want a deal?Q: There are people who say you don’t want a deal. And look where your money comes from. Your donors do not want a deal?
Johnson says this is the inverse of reality. He wants a deal. But there are limits. There is a limit to how much a sovereign country can compromise on customs.Johnson says this is the inverse of reality. He wants a deal. But there are limits. There is a limit to how much a sovereign country can compromise on customs.
On sanitary and phytosanitary plans for Ireland, he has already moved “a long way”.On sanitary and phytosanitary plans for Ireland, he has already moved “a long way”.
He says he does not think people in the UK have recognised quite how much the UK has moved on this.He says he does not think people in the UK have recognised quite how much the UK has moved on this.
Johnson claims UK has already compromised more on backstop than people realise.Johnson claims UK has already compromised more on backstop than people realise.
Nick Robinson is interviewing Boris Johnson on Today.Nick Robinson is interviewing Boris Johnson on Today.
Q: Will you be ringing EU leaders today about your plans?Q: Will you be ringing EU leaders today about your plans?
Johnson says he has been making calls.Johnson says he has been making calls.
He has seen some leaked plans, possibly leaked by Brussels, that are not quite right.He has seen some leaked plans, possibly leaked by Brussels, that are not quite right.
Q: So the report about having customs clearances sites away from the border are not true?Q: So the report about having customs clearances sites away from the border are not true?
Johnson says that is correct.Johnson says that is correct.
It would not make sense to have a new border away from the border.It would not make sense to have a new border away from the border.
Q: But people say there have to be checks somewhere?Q: But people say there have to be checks somewhere?
Johnson says he accepts that.Johnson says he accepts that.
He says the UK is coming up to the point of decision.He says the UK is coming up to the point of decision.
A single, united country must have its own customs territory.A single, united country must have its own customs territory.
But there are lots of ways of doing this. There are ways of protecting the customs area.But there are lots of ways of doing this. There are ways of protecting the customs area.
Robinson says Johnson can come back and discuss his plans when they are published. Johnson does not reject the idea.Robinson says Johnson can come back and discuss his plans when they are published. Johnson does not reject the idea.