Final Tory plea before British election: ‘Enough is enough, let’s end gridlock’

Boris Johnson invoked the memory of the 2012 Olympics as he urged voters to “stop the chaos” at Thursday’s poll.

Supporters in Middlesbrough listen to a Jeremy Corbyn speech. Picture: Getty Images

Boris Johnson invoked the memory of the 2012 Olympics as he urged voters to “stop the chaos” at Thursday’s poll.

The Prime Minister held his final campaign rally on the eve of the election at the Copper Box Arena in east London, which staged several sporting contests during perhaps the most memorable event of Mr Johnson’s eight years as mayor.

Mr Johnson warned that the election remained on a “knife edge”, despite the Tory leads in the polls. “Enough is enough,” he said. “This election is our chance to end the gridlock.

“Today is our chance to unite as a country and put the uncertainty to bed so people can get on with their lives. Just imagine how wonderful it will be to settle down to a turkey dinner this Christmas with Brexit decided — and how awful it would be if (Labour leader Jeremy) Corbyn and (Scottish National Party leader Nicola) Sturgeon were in Downing Street advancing their plans for two more referendums. Let’s stop the chaos and stop the referendums.

“We can secure a majority Conservative government if we win just nine more seats.”

He had a “simple message” for voters — including those who had never ticked the box next to a Tory candidate’s name on the ballot paper.

“Give me a majority and I will finish what we started — what you instructed us to do — 3½ years ago,” he said. “A great future is there within our grasp, but I need your vote. Even if you have never voted Conservative before, this is your chance to be heard and I promise I will not let you down.”

Mr Johnson the final day of his campaign before dawn in Guiseley, near Leeds, in the marginal Conservative-held seat of Pudsey.

He helped out on a milk round, a photo opportunity designed to symbolise his determination to deliver on his promises. As if this were not clear enough, when he announced to Debbie Monaghan, 40, a civil servant at whose door he appeared, that he had brought her milk, orange juice and washing up liquid, he paused before saying: “And 20,000 more police officers.”

The campaign stop was marred when viewers tuning in to Good Morning Britain on ITV saw the Prime Minister’s press secretary taking out his frustrations on a journalist from the program who asked Mr Johnson to take part in an interview live on air. Unaware the scene was being broadcast, Rob Oxley intervened to block the reporter’s access to Mr Johnson as he exclaimed “for f..k’s sake”.

Mr Johnson has repeatedly refused to appear on the program fronted by former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan. Nor has Mr Corbyn appeared.

On the drive to his next engagement, Mr Johnson stopped at a truck drivers’ cafe at Junction 29 of the M1 for a full English breakfast and photos with other customers. The location happened to be in Bolsover, the constituency held by Dennis Skinner since 1970, which the Conservatives have designs on winning for the first time.

At the Red Olive catering company in the marginal of Derby North, won by Labour at the previous election, the metaphors became even more explicit. Mr Johnson put the finishing touches on a steak and ale pie, laying its crust on top and brushing it with eggwash. It was the “perfect metaphor” for his “oven-ready” Brexit deal, he said, before removing a pre-cooked pie from the oven.

At a Christmas cracker factory in Caerphilly, south Wales, to where he flew from East Midlands Airport in a private jet, the festive joke in his cracker fell flat, so he asked workers: “What are we going to get done by Christmas?” Some shouted: “Brexit.” He then flew to Southend airport, making his way to east London for a final bout of door knocking.

The Times