No letup for UK politicians as Boris Johnson presses ahead with Brexit
There’ll be no post-election letup for British politicians as victorious PM Boris Johnson vows to “get Brexit done” quickly.
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There will be no letup for UK politicians worn out after Britain’s bruising election campaign. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to begin “before Christmas” the push to secure Parliamentary approval for his Brexit deal.
Buoyed by its landslide victory in Thursday’s election, Mr Johnson’s Conservative government plans to move fast to make good on his campaign mantra to “get Brexit done.”
That means ensuring legislation known as the Brexit withdrawal agreement bill is passed in time for the UK to complete its historic departure from the European Union by the current deadline of Jan. 31.
With a Conservative majority of 80, the tortured wrangling that has been a hallmark of Brexit debates since Britain’s 2016 referendum on its EU status should be consigned to history.
But once the Brexit legislation has passed, negotiations between London and Brussels will begin on a new deal covering their economic and strategic relationship.
A transition period built into Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal means that trade between Britain and the bloc will remain smooth until the end of 2020.
But if no pact is ready then, the United Kingdom could still face an economically damaging departure from the EU, its main trading partner.
The first order of business when the new politicians take their seats on Tuesday on the green leather-clad wooden benches of the House of Commons’ debating chamber is electing a Speaker.
That position was elevated to global fame by former Speaker John Bercow and his theatrical cries of “Or-derrr” before he stepped down and was replaced in November by Lindsay Hoyle.
Next, all 650 legislators have to be sworn in, a process expected to take days.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II will deliver a speech written by Mr Johnson’s government, laying out the administration’s policy plans.
Jeremy Corbyn apologised on Sunday for this party’s crushing defeat in the British general election but defended his campaign, even though it failed to resonate with the party’s working-class base, as “one of hope rather than fear.”
“I’m sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it,” he wrote in a letter published in the left-leaning Sunday Mirror newspaper.
Mr Corbyn was widely criticised for his perceived tolerance of anti-Semitism in his inner circle.
After coming under fire from his own party in the aftermath of the electoral carnage, Mr Corbyn said he will step down after a “period of reflection.”
The process of choosing a replacement will begin early next year, but some have called for Mr Corbyn’s immediate resignation.
Labour politician Lisa Nandy told the BBC she is “seriously thinking about” running to become the party’s next leader.
Nicola Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party made strong gains in Thursday’s election, has been pushing hard since then to get UK government approval for a second referendum on Scottish independence, something Johnson has ruled out.
Ms Sturgeon was uncompromising on Mr Johnson’s position.
“If he thinks saying ‘No’ is the end of the matter, then he’s going to find himself completely and utterly wrong,” she told the BBC on Sunday.
It comes as Mr Johnson promised to heal Britain after three and a half years of Brexit mayhem.
The Prime Minister officially won a majority of 80 seats in the UK House of Commons – the largest Tory majority since 1987 and the biggest win of any government since 2001.
Mr Johnson made his way to the Queen to ask her permission to form a new government.
He then told the nation outside No 10 Downing St that Brexit will finally get done and it is time for Brits to enjoy their Christmas in peace.
“We are going to unite and level up,” he said.
“Bringing together the whole of this incredible United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland together, taking us forward, unleashing the potential of the whole country, delivering opportunity across the entire nation.”
“I’m proud to say that members of our One Nation Conservative Government – our people’s government – will set out from constituencies which haven’t returned a Conservative MP for 100 years,” he said.
“After five weeks frankly of electioneering, I know this nation wants a break from wrangling, a break from politics and a permanent break from talking about Brexit.
“I want everyone to go about their Christmas preparations secure in the knowledge that the work is being stepped up.”
He also reached out to pro-Europe voters and promised to pursue a new and reinvigorated relationship with the European Union.
“I want you to know that we in this One Nation Conservative government will never ignore your good and positive feelings of warmth and sympathy towards the nations of Europe,” he said.
While he may want a Christmas break, Mr Johnson will have to reshape his cabinet and there are reports he is considering dumping his Chancellor Sajid Javid.
And he has to stare down a resurgent Scottish National Party who won 48 out of 59 seats in Scotland and are now demanding a second vote on Scottish independence.
Ms Sturgeon said: “You (Mr Johnson), as the leader of a defeated party in Scotland, have no right to stand in the way.
“The people of Scotland have spoken. It is time now to decide our own future.”
The Tories lost seven seats in Scotland to the SNP, but defied expectation and held onto six electorates. Mr Johnson has vowed to never let Scotland leave the UK.
Mr Johnson basked in a “glorious, glorious, pre-breakfast moment” as the realisation of his election win hit home.
He congratulated all those who worked on the biggest Conservative majority since the 1980s.
“With this election I think we’ve put an end to all those miserable threats of a second referendum,” he said.
“I have a message to all those who voted for us yesterday, especially those who voted for us Conservatives, one nation Conservatives for the first time.
“You may only have lent us your vote and you may not think of yourself as a natural Tory.
“And as I think I said 11 years ago to the people of London when I was elected in what was thought of as a Labour city, your hand may have quivered over the ballot paper as before you put your cross in the Conservative box and you may intend to return to Labour next time round.
“And if that is the case, I am humbled that you have put your trust in me and that you have put your trust in us.”
Mr Johnson said Brexit will get done by January 31 “no ifs, no buts”.
“And I will make it my mission to work night and day, flat out to prove that you were right in voting for me this time, and to earn your support in the future,” he said.
“And I say to you that in this election your voice has been heard, and about time too.
“Because we politicians have squandered the last three years, three and a half years in squabbles – we’ve even been arguing about arguing, and arguing about the tone of our arguments.
“I will put an end to all that nonsense and we will get Brexit done on time by the January 31 – no ifs, no buts, no maybes.
“Leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom, taking back control of our laws, borders, money, our trade, immigration system, delivering on the democratic mandate of the people.”
LABOUR’S NEXT LEADER REVEALED
Keir Starmer is the frontrunner to take charge of Labour from beleaguered Jeremy Corbyn – who has vowed to step down.
Mr Corbyn said he would resign before the next general election after a disastrous campaign in which the Tories have won a landslide majority.
Bookmakers William Hill have human rights lawyer Starmer, currently shadow Brexit secretary, as 2/1 favourite to succeed Mr Corbyn.
Other candidates include Rebecca Long-Bailey (3/1), Emily Thornberry (7/1), Yvette Cooper (8/1), Angela Rayner (10/1) Laura Pidcock (10/1), Jess Phillips (12/1), John McDonnell (14/1), Clive Lewis (16/1) and David Miliband (16/1).
William Hill also offer 4/7 that Labour will appoint their very first female leader.
Rival bookies Ladbrokes has Starmer joint favourite with arch Corbynite Long-Bailey – with both of them at 3/1.
They then have Cooper at 8/1 and Rayner at 10/1 respectively.
Labour’s campaign has been overshadowed by anti-Semitism allegations and the leader’s refusal to take a stand on Brexit.
Corbyn vowed to step down as Labour leader before the next election after failing to win a second poll in a row.
As he won his seat in Islington North, Mr Corbyn said: “I want to also make it clear that I will not lead the party in any future general election campaign.
“I will discuss with our party to ensure there is a process now of reflection on this result and on the policies that the party will take going forward.
“And I will lead the party during that period to ensure that discussion takes place and we move on into the future.”
Mr Corbyn added: “This is obviously a very disappointing night for the Labour Party with the result that we’ve got.”
Labour MP Jess Phillips, who is at 12/1 to take charge of Labour, says she is “devastated” by the projected election result and that her party needs a “change.”
Speaking with Sky News, the MP for Birmingham Yardley refused to rule herself out of the leadership race.
She said: “If people trust me, then yes I will take a role in rebuilding
“I’m not going to sit here and make headlines.”
Ms Phillips said that the country has delivered a message to Labour and that the party has “to listen” to the electorate.
She said: “The truth is people didn’t trust us to deliver the manifesto.
“There is no trust left in politics. The bar has got so low we could allow somebody like Boris Johnson to rule our country with what seems like a blank cheque.
“We have got to rebuild trust.”
HOW THE PAPERS COVERED THE VICTORY
Mr Johnson was applauded and cheered by supporters as he gave a tub-thumping speech in Westminster following the Tories’ best election win since 1983.
Thanking the British people for putting their trust in him, he said in echoes of Tony Blair after his 1997 landslide: “We did it, we pulled it off!
“We broke the deadlock, we smashed the roadblock and a new dawn rises on a new day.”
In a stark message to those who have been pushing for a rerun of the 2016 Brexit contest, he said: “That’s it. Put a sock in the megaphone.”
He joked: “Let’s get Brexit done. But first, let’s get breakfast done.”
Speaking directly to voters in the North and Midlands who helped the Tories overturn more than a dozen seats from Labour, he said he would make it his “mission to work night and day, flat out” to earn their support in the future.
“You may have only lent us your vote,” he continued.
“Your hand may have quivered over the ballot paper before you put your cross in the box.
“I am humbled you put your trust in me and in us, and I will never take your support for granted,” he promised.
“Your voice has been heard, and about time too.”
He vowed to make the NHS his top priority and deliver the funding it needs, before turning his attention to Britain’s other issues.
In a speech to congratulate activists at CCHQ he said the country had given him a “stonking mandate” and the Tories had created a political “earthquake”.
“We have changed the political map in this country,” he said.
“We have to grapple with the consequences of that. We have to change our own party. We have to rise to the level of events.
“We have to rise to the challenge that the British people have given us.”
CORBYN TO STEP DOWN
Jeremy Corbyn said he would not lead Britain’s main opposition Labour Party at the next general election.
“I will not lead the party in any future general election campaign,” the veteran socialist, 70, said after winning his north London seat for the 10th time.
Mr Corbyn went into the election offering a radical leftist program for social change, including huge investment in public services, as well as a second referendum on Brexit.
“Brexit has so polarised and divided debate in this country, it has overridden so much of a normal political debate,” he added.
“I recognise that has contributed to the results that the Labour Party has received this evening all across this country.”
TRUMP’S MESSAGE TO BORIS
United States president Donald Trump, who desperately tried to avoid intervening in the UK election during a NATO visit this month, welcomed Mr Johnson’s result.
“Looking like a big win for Boris in the U.K.!,” he said on Twitter.
Mr Trump and Mr Johnson have been allies, and the United States president ruled out a free trade deal involving the NHS during his UK visit as it was becoming a hot button election issue.
Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019
SCOTLAND’S SWING
Scotland swung behind the Scottish Nationalist Party on election night with a swing of nearly nine per cent towards the pro-independence party.
The Tories and Labour lost at least six seats each to the SNP and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon immediately claimed her party’s victory as a mandate for a second vote of Scotland separating the UK.
“Scotland has sent a very clear message,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“We don’t want a Boris Johnson Conservative government, we don’t want to leave the European Union, and we want Scotland’s future to be in Scotland’s hands.”
Ms Sturgeon is now on a collision course with Mr Johnson as the Prime Minister has promised to never allow a second Scottish independence referendum.
The SNP has threatened to take Mr Johnson to court if he will not allow the Scottish parliament to set up a second independence vote.
Ian Murray, who previously served as shadow Scotland secretary under Mr Corbyn and is trying to retain Edinburgh South, rejected the official narrative. “Every door I knocked on, and my team and I spoke to 11,000 people, mentioned Corbyn,” he said.
“Not Brexit but Corbyn. I’ve been saying this for years.
“The outcome is that we’ve let the country down and we must change course and fast.”
Labour’s Gareth Snell predicted his own defeat ahead in the Brexit-backing former stronghold of Stoke-on-Trent Central and called for the resignation of Mr Corbyn on the BBC.
“I’m going to lose badly and this is the start of 20 years of Tory rule,” he added to the PA news agency.
Phil Wilson, who faces a struggle to retain Tony Blair’s former seat of Sedgefield, was highly critical of the Brexit defence.
“For @UKLabour leadership to blame Brexit for the result is mendacious nonsense. Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was a bigger problem. To say otherwise is delusional,” he tweeted.
“The Party’s leadership went down like a lead balloon on the doorstep. Labour’s leadership needs to take responsibility.”
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‘CORBYN PROJECT HAS BEEN SELF INDULGENT’
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was hijacked by a protester dressed Sesame Street character Elmo when he voted in Islington, north London overnight.
Security restrained Elmo when he tried to approach Mr Corbyn.
The Labour leader was trying to get voters to turn out even in the final hour, with the contest increasingly expected to be tight.
Former South Australian Premier Mike Rann told News Corp if the exit poll was right UK Labour would have to decide on its path.
“UK Labour will soon have to decide whether it wants to be a party of government in the future or remain as some kind of weird cult that it has become under Corbyn and Co,” Mr Rann said.
“The Corbyn project has been so self indulgent and in doing so has betrayed working people who need Labour to win government to provide them with security and opportunity.
“It is important for progressive parties to lead but to win you have to listen to the people you lead.
“Bob Hawke taught us that an effective Labor Party was like a plane. It had to keep moving forward but it had to have two wings, left and right, to keep flying.”
Originally published as No letup for UK politicians as Boris Johnson presses ahead with Brexit
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