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| Boris Johnson ‘turbo-charging’ no-deal Brexit plans, say ministers | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson is “turbo-charging” preparations to leave the EU without a deal on 31 October as his government’s number one priority, according to several senior cabinet ministers. | Boris Johnson is “turbo-charging” preparations to leave the EU without a deal on 31 October as his government’s number one priority, according to several senior cabinet ministers. |
| The new prime minister sent out cabinet ministers for interviews across newspapers and broadcasters this weekend as part of a publicity blitz about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. | The new prime minister sent out cabinet ministers for interviews across newspapers and broadcasters this weekend as part of a publicity blitz about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. |
| Their message is that the UK will be heading for no deal unless EU leaders agree to replace the Irish backstop. | Their message is that the UK will be heading for no deal unless EU leaders agree to replace the Irish backstop. |
| I won't support no-deal Brexit, says defiant Ruth Davidson | I won't support no-deal Brexit, says defiant Ruth Davidson |
| Michael Gove, the new Cabinet Office minister in charge of no-deal preparations, said the government was “operating on the assumption” that Britain would leave without a deal on 31 October and it was a “very real prospect” because EU leaders had so far not changed their minds about scrapping the backstop. | Michael Gove, the new Cabinet Office minister in charge of no-deal preparations, said the government was “operating on the assumption” that Britain would leave without a deal on 31 October and it was a “very real prospect” because EU leaders had so far not changed their minds about scrapping the backstop. |
| He said in the Sunday Times that an agreement might not be struck with Brussels by then, but there was a “new clarity of mission, we will exit the EU on October 31, no ifs, no buts, no more delay”. | He said in the Sunday Times that an agreement might not be struck with Brussels by then, but there was a “new clarity of mission, we will exit the EU on October 31, no ifs, no buts, no more delay”. |
| On Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, he said: “You can’t just reheat the dish that’s been sent back and expect that will make it more palatable.” | On Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, he said: “You can’t just reheat the dish that’s been sent back and expect that will make it more palatable.” |
| At the same time, Sajid Javid, the new chancellor, told the Sunday Telegraph there would be “significant extra funding” this week to get Britain “fully ready to leave” the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal. | At the same time, Sajid Javid, the new chancellor, told the Sunday Telegraph there would be “significant extra funding” this week to get Britain “fully ready to leave” the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal. |
| He said the additional spending would include financing one of the country’s “biggest ever public information campaigns” to ensure individuals and businesses were ready for a no-deal exit. | He said the additional spending would include financing one of the country’s “biggest ever public information campaigns” to ensure individuals and businesses were ready for a no-deal exit. |
| Javid added that he planned to fund 500 new Border Force officers and look at new infrastructure around the country’s ports to minimise congestion and ensure goods could flow. | Javid added that he planned to fund 500 new Border Force officers and look at new infrastructure around the country’s ports to minimise congestion and ensure goods could flow. |
| And Priti Patel, the new home secretary, told the Mail on Sunday that she would stop the “automatic right of entry for EU citizens, with or without work” in order to give the “type of preference to brilliant scientists, academics and highly skilled workers that we want to see more of”. | And Priti Patel, the new home secretary, told the Mail on Sunday that she would stop the “automatic right of entry for EU citizens, with or without work” in order to give the “type of preference to brilliant scientists, academics and highly skilled workers that we want to see more of”. |
| Gove and Javid are part of a new “war cabinet” of six key ministers to deliver Brexit by 31 October “by any means necessary”. | Gove and Javid are part of a new “war cabinet” of six key ministers to deliver Brexit by 31 October “by any means necessary”. |
| Rishi Sunak, the new chief secretary to the Treasury, then gave an interview on Sky News saying the government was “turbo-charging” no-deal preparations. | |
| “Of course we would prefer to [leave] with a new deal, one that removes this anti-democratic backstop,” he said. “We are prepared to enter into negotiations with the spirit of friendship and determination but if the EU doesn’t want to do that it is right we are absolutely prepared for that. We are turbo-charging preparations for no deal. That is now the government’s number one priority.” | “Of course we would prefer to [leave] with a new deal, one that removes this anti-democratic backstop,” he said. “We are prepared to enter into negotiations with the spirit of friendship and determination but if the EU doesn’t want to do that it is right we are absolutely prepared for that. We are turbo-charging preparations for no deal. That is now the government’s number one priority.” |
| Johnson is pushing ahead with the preparations despite cross-party MPs pledging to join forces to prevent no deal. | |
| Philip Hammond, the former Conservative chancellor, held private talks with Labour’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, shortly before Johnson entered Downing Street last Wednesday, to plot cross-party moves aimed at preventing the new prime minister agreeing to a no-deal Brexit. | |
| However, Johnson’s new senior adviser Dominic Cummings has put the government on a war footing to face opponents in parliament and achieve an exit on 31 October with or without a deal. He told a meeting of the prime minister’s advisers that he had been tasked with delivering Brexit “by any means necessary”. | However, Johnson’s new senior adviser Dominic Cummings has put the government on a war footing to face opponents in parliament and achieve an exit on 31 October with or without a deal. He told a meeting of the prime minister’s advisers that he had been tasked with delivering Brexit “by any means necessary”. |
| The following people are in Boris Johnson's first cabinet: | The following people are in Boris Johnson's first cabinet: |
| Sajid Javid, chancellorDominic Raab, foreign secretaryPriti Patel, home secretaryMichael Gove, chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterRobert Buckland QC, lord chancellor and justice secretaryStephen Barclay, Brexit secretaryBen Wallace, defence secretaryMatthew Hancock, health secretaryAndrea Leadsom, business secretaryLiz Truss, international trade secretaryAmber Rudd, work and pensions secretaryGavin Williamson, education secretaryTheresa Villiers, environment secretaryRobert Jenrick, housing secretaryGrant Shapps, transport secretaryJulian Smith, Northern Ireland secretaryAlister Jack, Scotland secretaryAlun Cairns, Wales secretaryBaroness Evans, leader of the House of LordsNicky Morgan, DCMS secretaryAlok Sharma, international development secretaryJames Cleverly, party chair and minister without portfolio | |
| These people also attend full cabinet meetings: | These people also attend full cabinet meetings: |
| Rishi Sunak, chief secretary to the TreasuryJacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the House of CommonsMark Spencer, chief whipGeoffrey Cox QC, attorney generalKwasai Kwarteng, energy ministerOliver Dowden, paymaster general and minister for the Cabinet OfficeJake Berry, minister of state at the Cabinet OfficeEsther McVey, housing ministerJo Johnson, universities ministerBrandon Lewis, security minister | |
| There is growing speculation that this could include an election if parliament blocks the new government’s Brexit plans, even though Johnson has ruled that out. | There is growing speculation that this could include an election if parliament blocks the new government’s Brexit plans, even though Johnson has ruled that out. |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said his party was ready for an election, telling Sky that he was “not in the slightest bit” fazed by going up against Johnson. | |
| Meanwhile, polls have suggested the Tories were boosted by a “Boris bounce” after the election of their new leader. | Meanwhile, polls have suggested the Tories were boosted by a “Boris bounce” after the election of their new leader. |
| Since Johnson became prime minister, the Conservatives have gained 10 points to stand at 30%, new polling by Opinium for the Observer showed. The polling shows the Conservatives benefiting from an ebbing of support away from the Brexit party. | Since Johnson became prime minister, the Conservatives have gained 10 points to stand at 30%, new polling by Opinium for the Observer showed. The polling shows the Conservatives benefiting from an ebbing of support away from the Brexit party. |
| Despite being pushed into second place, Labour are also up three points to 28% at the expense of the Green party. | Despite being pushed into second place, Labour are also up three points to 28% at the expense of the Green party. |
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