UK election 2019: Boris Johnson drives JCB through Brexit ‘gridlock’

Boris Johnson drove a bulldozer through a wall to get his Brexit message home in the last hours of the Tory party campaign.

Boris Johnson drives a bulldozer through a foam wall at a JCB manufacturing facility in Uttoxeter. Picture; AP.

Boris Johnson drove a bulldozer through a foam wall embellished with the word “gridlock’’ across its front at a construction company owned by a Conservative donor to get his Brexit message home in the last hours of the Tory party campaign.

But has he driven through the Labour “red wall’’ heartland in the Midlands to return a majority Tory government and counter the Labour Santa-sack of giveaways and a far left manifesto?

The Prime Minister has been trying to steer the Brexit narrative into British lounge rooms as the wild wintry weather mirrors the despondent feelings of voters after the near six week election campaign.

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Mr Johnson said it was very hard to see Brexit happening if there was no Tory working majority. He reminded voters that the Scottish Nationalist party leader Nicola Sturgeon has hired a “Stop Brexit’’ bus and it is her alliance with Labour that could keep Jeremy Corbyn in office in return for a fresh Scottish independence vote. Mr Johnson said, standing alongside the bulldozer prop: “It is very hard to see how we do it without a working majority Conservative government. That’s what we need to go for …. It’s time to send in the bulldozers and smash through the gridlock.’’

Boris Johnson drives a JCB through a symbolic wall with the Conservative Party slogan 'Get Brexit Done' in the digger bucket. Picture: AP.

Mr Johnson also referenced a leaked recording of a private conversation between Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth and a Tory activist who was a long standing friend.

In the recording, Mr Ashworth suggested his leader was a security risk and admitted that outside of major cities, people “can’t stand” Mr Corbyn.

Mr Ashworth expressed surprise the Tories didn’t have a majority, and was recorded saying: ”Outside of the city seats, if you are in small town midlands and north, it’s abysmal out there. They don’t like Johnson, but they can’t stand Corbyn and they think Labour’s blocked Brexit. I don’t think they are long-term gains for the Tory party. But I can well see them going Tory this election and if Labour ever got its act together they presumably would fall back’’.

Mr Johnson attacked Mr Corbyn as a “Hamas-backing, IRA-supporting, antisemitism-condoning appeaser of the Kremlin” and added: “If you doubt me, look at what his health spokesman said today, Jon Ashworth. He revealed that he thought his own leader is a security risk. Jon Ashworth made it absolutely clear that the reason Mr Corbyn is failing to persuade some people to vote for him is he is blocking Brexit – he won’t get Brexit done.’’

The Ashworth tape was explained away by the MP as joking around with a Tory mate. However it has shifted attention away from a photo of a four year old boy lying on a hospital floor at Leeds Infirmary that has become a symbol of National Health Service woes heavily promoted by Labour, which blames the Tories for austerity cuts to local services.

Jack Willment-Barr was at the hospital for suspected pneumonia and because of bed shortages was left on the floor on a jacket. His mother gave the photo to a local newspaper, but on social media there were claims the photo was staged, denied by Mrs Willment-Barr, who received an apology for her son’s treatment from the hospital.

Mr Johnson is to spend the last few hours refocusing attention onto Britain leaving the European Union under a majority Tory government – and in doing so will largely avoid being anywhere near his own constituency in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, west of London.

While Brexit is still the main issue for the 46 million voters who go to the polls tomorrow, the creaking NHS and nursing shortages have become the most significant election issue for Labour supporters. For Mr Johnson, heavy campaigning in the red belt of the Midlands has been more important than shoring up support in his own seat, which has a local hospital that needs an upgrade and was included in one of the future medical facilities the Tories have promised for seed funding.

Local issues here are the expansion of Heathrow airport, where many residents are employed, the state of the hospital, and Brexit.

For the increasingly vocal student bloc from Brunel University, the main issue is to stand behind their former student union organiser and Labour candidate Ali Milani and cause a huge upset. Mr Johnson holds the Leave seat by just over 5000 votes, the slimmest margin of a sitting prime minister.

Voters in the Prime Minister’s electorate call him the missing prime minister as he has been absent from local hustings. Mr Milani, who grew up in the area since migrating as a youngster has attacked Mr Johnson for not being accountable.

“Every local resident should have the right to ask all their candidates questions and hear their views,’’ said Mr Milani.

“Truth is, those who come from the ‘born to rule’ political class believe they are above accountability.

“My challenge to Johnson: there is time. Show up and debate me.’’