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General election 2019: Campaign begins as Alun Cairns quits General election 2019: Boris Johnson says he will see Brexit 'over the line'
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson will launch the Conservative election campaign later, promising to "get Brexit done". Boris Johnson has said the Tories will get Brexit "over the line" if they win the general election and then "unleash the country's potential".
The prime minister has met the Queen at Buckingham Palace, marking the official start of the election period in the run-up to the 12 December poll. In a statement in Downing Street marking the start of his campaign, he said if returned to power he would end the "paralysis" in Parliament and take the UK out of the EU in January.
He is making a statement in Downing Street shortly before addressing his first rally of the five-week campaign. A Labour victory would mean a "horror show" of further Brexit delay.
But the PM is facing fresh difficulties after the resignation of the Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns. But in a blow to the PM, Alun Cairns has resigned as Welsh Secretary.
Mr Cairns quit the cabinet after claims he knew about a former aide's role in the "sabotage" of a rape trial.Mr Cairns quit the cabinet after claims he knew about a former aide's role in the "sabotage" of a rape trial.
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said he did not expect Mr Johnson to address the cabinet minister's resignation in his statement, saying it would "suck the life out" of his core message on Brexit and other issues. The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said while Mr Cairns was not a "big name" outside of Wales, his exit was a "major disruption" and Mr Johnson clearly "need to get a grip" of a campaign that was "on the brink of disarray".
While Mr Cairns was not a "big name" outside of Wales, our correspondent said his exit was a "major disruption" and Mr Johnson clearly "need to get a grip" of a campaign that was "on the brink of disarray".
The resignation has compounded an already problematic start to the campaign for the party, which has seen two Tory candidates apologise for comments about victims of the Grenfell tragedy.The resignation has compounded an already problematic start to the campaign for the party, which has seen two Tory candidates apologise for comments about victims of the Grenfell tragedy.
Party chairman James Cleverly said Jacob Rees Mogg and Andrew Bridgen's remarks about the actions of Grenfell victims had "caused hurt and distress", telling BBC Breakfast "we don't always get things right and when we get it wrong we apologise".Party chairman James Cleverly said Jacob Rees Mogg and Andrew Bridgen's remarks about the actions of Grenfell victims had "caused hurt and distress", telling BBC Breakfast "we don't always get things right and when we get it wrong we apologise".
Elsewhere, as the starting pistol is fired on five weeks of official campaigning:Elsewhere, as the starting pistol is fired on five weeks of official campaigning:
Writing in the Daily Telegraph earlier, Mr Johnson likened the UK to a "supercar blocked in the traffic" by Brexit, adding: "If we can get Brexit done, there are hundreds of billions of pounds of investment that are just waiting to flood into this country." The prime minister met the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday morning, marking the official start of the election period in the run-up to the 12 December poll.
He said those in Labour "point their fingers" at the rich "with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks" - wealthier peasants during the Russian Revolution, many of whom were murdered or starved to death. Speaking later outside Downing Street, he said he did not want to call the election but had been forced to act in the face of Parliament's efforts to block his "great Brexit deal".
And he repeated his claim that as well as another referendum on Brexit, a Labour government would also lead to a second vote on Scottish independence. If his "modern and compassionate" party won the election, he said he would take the UK out of the EU within six weeks, a move which would release a "flood of pent-up investment" in the economy.
In contrast, he said a Labour victory would result in another referendum and a second vote on Scottish independence.
"If I come back with a working majority, I will get Parliament working again," he said.
"Come with us and get Brexit done and take the country forward or spend the whole of 2020 in a horror show of dither and delay."
A tricky start for the ToriesA tricky start for the Tories
The simple fact this morning is that the Conservatives would love to be talking about their all-singing, all-dancing campaign launch happening later today.The simple fact this morning is that the Conservatives would love to be talking about their all-singing, all-dancing campaign launch happening later today.
But campaigns have an alchemy and the Tory campaign has bad chemistry in these opening days.But campaigns have an alchemy and the Tory campaign has bad chemistry in these opening days.
One cabinet minister told me yesterday that 'if we can hold our message, if we can stick to the core idea that we are the ones who can wrap up the mess of Brexit and be able to move on we will be OK'.One cabinet minister told me yesterday that 'if we can hold our message, if we can stick to the core idea that we are the ones who can wrap up the mess of Brexit and be able to move on we will be OK'.
They definitely could not stick to that yesterday. At the same time, campaigns are a bit like pouring concrete. They take a while to set.They definitely could not stick to that yesterday. At the same time, campaigns are a bit like pouring concrete. They take a while to set.
Inside the Tory party, as in all the parties, they know that the first few weeks are important to set out the parameters but days on their own don't mean in a few weeks time the balance will be the same.Inside the Tory party, as in all the parties, they know that the first few weeks are important to set out the parameters but days on their own don't mean in a few weeks time the balance will be the same.
Parliament was dissolved - or formally shut down - at just after midnight, meaning all MPs revert to being members of the public. Government ministers keep their posts.Parliament was dissolved - or formally shut down - at just after midnight, meaning all MPs revert to being members of the public. Government ministers keep their posts.
The PM's audience with the Queen lasted about 20 minutes. While the election has already been approved by MPs, the monarch still needed to sign a royal proclamation confirming the end of the last Parliament.The PM's audience with the Queen lasted about 20 minutes. While the election has already been approved by MPs, the monarch still needed to sign a royal proclamation confirming the end of the last Parliament.
'No choice''No choice'
In the Daily Telegraph, for which Mr Johnson is a columnist, the PM compared his opponent Mr Corbyn to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Mr Johnson said he did not want the election, but "we simply have no choice".
"There is only one way to get Brexit done, and I am afraid the answer is to ask the people to change this blockading Parliament."
Mr Johnson added: "It's time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut."
"The choice is clear. We can either go with Corbyn and his two favourite advisers, Dither and Delay... Or else we can vote for a sensible and moderate One Nation Conservative government".
Mr Johnson said that as well as another referendum on Brexit, a Labour government would also lead to a second vote on Scottish independence.
Mr Corbyn has previously said a new Scottish independence referendum was not "desirable or necessary" - but the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said she believed Labour would give the go-ahead for one if in government.
At his own campaign event, Mr Corbyn said he would be a "very different kind of prime minister" who "only seeks power in order to share power".At his own campaign event, Mr Corbyn said he would be a "very different kind of prime minister" who "only seeks power in order to share power".
He said Labour is "well prepared and utterly determined" to win power to "transform" the country and said recent comments by Tory candidates about the Grenfell tragedy were "shameful" and suggested his opponents felt there were "above us all".He said Labour is "well prepared and utterly determined" to win power to "transform" the country and said recent comments by Tory candidates about the Grenfell tragedy were "shameful" and suggested his opponents felt there were "above us all".
He said the election was a once-in-a-generation chance to "tear down the barriers that are holding people back" and to "rebuild" the NHS, schools and the police force.He said the election was a once-in-a-generation chance to "tear down the barriers that are holding people back" and to "rebuild" the NHS, schools and the police force.
Mr Corbyn has previously said a new Scottish independence referendum was not "desirable or necessary" - but the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said she believed Labour would give the go-ahead for one if in government.
Wednesday's dissolution ended the shortest parliamentary session since 1948, with the Commons having met for only 19 days since the state opening on 14 October.Wednesday's dissolution ended the shortest parliamentary session since 1948, with the Commons having met for only 19 days since the state opening on 14 October.
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