UK PM Boris Johnson warns that a hung parliament could cause further Brexit delays

Boris Johnson has warned voters that if the election ends in a hung parliament it will cause further delays in delivering a Brexit deal.

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Boris Johnson has warned voters of the threat of a hung parliament, amid fears that tactical voting will lead to more delays on Brexit.

The British Prime Minister held a press conference to encourage voters to give him a majority.

Polls have indicated Mr Johnson could win a 68-seat majority at the December 12 general election, which was called following deadlock over his plans to get Britain out of the European Union.

But his key adviser Dominic Cummings has warned that as few as 117,000 voters in key marginal seats could sway the election towards a hung parliament if they voted tactically.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media conference in London. Britain goes to the polls on Dec. 12. Picture: AP Photo/Frank Augstein

The Scottish National Party was expected to pick up seats in Scotland and would be able to support a Labour government, in return for a second referendum on independence, if votes fell their way.

Mr Johnson warned in London tonight, after being criticised for failing to submit to two television interviews, that voters should be careful with their choices.

“If there is another hung parliament after this election, then the deadlock will continue,” he said.

Jeremy Corbyn didn’t seem very keen to talk to Boris Johnson and was seen grimacing as the prime minister attempted to make small talk before the Queen’s Speech. Picture: Supplied

“The probability would be that (Labour’s) Jeremy Corbyn would be in Downing Street propped up by (the SNP’s) Nicola Sturgeon.

“But if there is a Conservative majority government, then we can deliver on the change people voted for.

“Our first move would be to bring the Withdrawal Agreement back before Christmas and then leave the EU on January 31. No ifs, no buts – we’ll get it done.”

Mr Johnson has been under pressure in recent days after he delayed a BBC interview and refused to attend a debate on Britain’s Channel 4 about climate change.

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The cheeky producers refused to allow someone to come in his place and put a melting block of ice where his podium would have been.

Mr Johnson said on London radio that he did not see the block of ice stunt.

“I didn’t see the debate but it is noticeable that people have talked more about that than the substance that came out of the debate and I think that is a shame,” he said.

Labour has been gripped by an anti-Semitism crisis, following the intervention of Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis this week who said that Mr Corbyn was unfit for high office.

He refused to apologise for anti-Semitism four times in an interview with the BBC this week.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is at the end of his five-year mandate and is expected to hand over the reins to his successor. Picture: AFP

CHANGE AT EU AS TUSK, JUCKER BOW OUT

Brussels European Council President Donald Tusk has handed over the reins to his successor Charles Michel, as the European Union completes a change of leadership following EU-wide elections in May.

“Europe is the best place on earth, at least as long as it remains a continent of freedom and rule of law … inhabited by a community aware of its history and culture,” Tusk said, before symbolically handing Michel the bell used at summits to call EU leaders to order.

“Im sure you, dear Charles, will use all your talents and virtues to maintain our unity,” he added.

Michel, who recently stepped down as Belgian prime minister, said he would take a “commonsense approach to problem-solving with innovation and efficiency”. He stressed the green economy as a priority, while noting that Europe should be more assertive on the world stage.

Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk waves during the handover ceremony. Picture: AFP

“In the medium to long term, there is a risk of a new Cold War between the United States and China,” Michel said earlier, in an interview with Italy’s La Stampa and other European newspapers published on Friday.

“Europe risks becoming collateral damage in this future conflict,” he warned. Later on Friday, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is due to put in a final appearance before journalists in Brussels.

Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s former defence minister, takes over at the helm of a new commission team on Sunday, when Michel also formally succeeds Tusk.

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