Defiant Johnson rules out quitting

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September 30, 2019

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Defiant Johnson rules out quitting

Source: Agencies | 00:05 UTC+8 September 30, 2019 |

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Boris Johnson vowed yesterday he would not quit as Britain’s prime minister even if he fails to secure a deal to leave the European Union, saying only his Conservative government can deliver Brexit on October 31.

At the beginning of his party’s annual conference in the northern city of Manchester, Johnson wants to rally his party with the “do or die” message that he will deliver Brexit by the end of October, with or without a deal.

But there are hurdles, not least of which is what Johnson calls “the surrender act”: The law parliament passed to force the prime minister to request a delay if he has not secured a deal with Brussels by an October 17-18 EU summit.

Johnson declined to explain how he plans to circumvent that law and deliver on his Brexit promise, deepening uncertainty around Britain’s biggest trade and foreign policy shift for more than 40 years.

“People can feel that this country is approaching an important moment of choice and we have to get on and we have to deliver Brexit on October the 31st,” he said. “I’m going to get on and do it.”

Asked if he would resign to avoid having to ask for a delay, Johnson said: “No, I have undertaken to lead the party and my country at a difficult time and I am going to continue to do that. I believe it is my responsibility.”

Opposition lawmakers have been highly critical of Johnson’s reference to “the surrender bill,” saying his language is stirring even more division in a country that has remained split since the 2016 referendum on EU membership.

More than three years after Britain voted to leave the EU, both the governing Conservative Party and others are getting ready for an early election, widely expected to be held before the end of the year to break the Brexit deadlock.

Polling firm Opinium said the main opposition Labour Party has gained 2 percentage points but the Conservatives Party still held a 12-point lead.

Although the option of bringing a vote of no confidence in Johnson has been mooted, Labour’s education policy chief Angela Rayner said yesterday the party wanted to “get no-deal off the table” before it did anything else.

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Defiant Johnson rules out quitting

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