Boris Johnson as UK prime minister – His stance on Brexit and latest news
BORIS Johnson is the leader of the Tory party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after being elected into the position in July 2019.
The former Foreign Secretary and Mayor of London is a controversial character and staunch brexiteer. Here's what you need to know about the PM.
What is Boris Johnson’s stance on Brexit?
Brexiteer Boris Johnson has repeated his determination to deliver Brexit by Halloween.
The Tory leadership candidate appeared to deliver a retort to his Prime Minister rival, Jeremy Hunt, as he vowed "we are not going to bottle it" on the EU exit date of October 31.
That means leaving without a deal and to trade with the bloc under World Trade Organisation rules.
What has Boris Johnson promised to do as UK Prime Minister?
Boris Johnson beat Jeremy Hunt in the Tory leadership election in July 2019 in order to seal his place as PM.
At his official Conservative leadership contest launch Bojo pitched his bold vision for a post-Brexit Britain and warned that the Tories will "kick the bucket" if they fail to get us out of the EU by October 31.
Johnson has said he will lead Britain out of the EU with or without a deal by October 31 — so he can focus on dealing with issues that have been left on the back- burner for the past three years.
His main economic policy is to ditch any austerity measures and has made numerous spending promises, mainly on infrastructure, saying he would borrow the money to fund various projects, including rolling out broadband in rural areas and greenlighting Northern Powerhouse Rail.
He has also promised to end "unfair" prosecutions of Northern Ireland veterans who served during the Troubles.
Johnson has also promised to slash VAT and make fewer people pay National Insurance to help low-paid workers.
Action could include lowering VAT rates and raising the National Insurance threshold for lowest earners.
It will form part of a “Brexit bonanza” to boost the wage packets of millions of hard-pressed families.
Completing Brexit and getting the UK out of the EU will be his most pressing issue and he will need to deliver on his promises.
He has clearly stated we must leave on or before October 31, no matter what, which could mean a no deal scenario.
He told The Sun on Sunday he would be a "different sort of Prime Minister".
Johnson vowed to end the “diet of misery” inflicted on the nation and put a spring back in everyone’s step.
Johnson said: “For the last three years, quite frankly, we’ve had nothing but a diet of miserabilism.
"We can’t do this, we can’t do that. You know, ‘Computer says no’. And it’s really wretched.
“I think probably I’m going to be a different sort of Prime Minister in the sense that throughout my political career, I’ve tended to go for my shots.
“Sometimes I get out and sometimes I hit some runs.
"So let’s knock it out of the park. Well, I think, at least have a go.”
What is Boris Johnson's constituency?
Boris returned to Parliament in 2015 after serving as the Mayor of London for eight years.
Previously he was the MP for Henley between 2001 and 2007.
He ran as the Conservative candidate in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2015 General Election.
He was a leading force in the Leave campaign in the EU referendum in 2016.
After Prime Minister David Cameron resigned, Boris was expected to run for leader but after being betrayed by Michael Gove he dropped out of the race.
In the 2017 General Election, Mr Johnson retained his seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip but his majority was slashed in half.
What did Boris say about Theresa May's Brexit plan?
BoJo claimed the PM's Brexit plan would wrap Britain in a "suicide vest" and give the detonator to Brussels.
But Tory rising star and former Army officer Tom Tugendhat, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, demanded Boris "grow up".
He said: "A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting — limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes.
"Comparing the PM to that isn't funny."
His comments have sparked a huge row within the Tory party as his allies fear he has undermined his own leadership plans with his outspoken views.
The former Foreign Secretary quit the Cabinet in protest at the PM's Brexit proposals which she hammered out at Chequers.
Since throwing his hat into the ring for Conservation leadership once again, Boris has said he will hold EU chiefs to ransom in a bid to get a better Brexit deal.
He claims he will refuse to pay the £39billion payoff until they agree to more favourable terms for the UK.
What has he done since becoming Prime Minister?
In visits to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, Johnson spoke to leaders about Brexit and retaining a Tory government.
His trip to Wales was unsuccessful after he tried to convince voters in Brecon and Radnorshire to stick with ousted Chris Davies as their MP.
But Jane Dodds pipped him to the post, leaving the PM with a majority of only one in the House of Commons.
He has been planning for the possibility of a No Deal Brexit, but negotiations with Brussels are yet to take place.
Both sides have said they refuse to talk until the other gives in on the issue of the Irish Backstop.
Johnson has pushed the button on plans to create TEN tax-haven ‘freeports’ in a blue collar Brexit revolution.
Trade Secretary Liz Truss said ports and airports would be invited to bid to become one of the regeneration zones she said would mirror Margaret Thatcher’s transformation of London’s Docklands.
Why did Boris Johnson resign as Foreign Secretary?
Boris quit as Foreign Secretary on July 9 in a bitter blow to Theresa May's government.
He walked out just hours after she lost Brexit Secretary David Davis over plans to force through a soft Brexit.
The pair, both passionate Brexit supporters, walked out in the wake of the PM's Chequers agreement.
Since leaving Cabinet, the former journalist has regularly spoken out against the PM's Brexit plans and is widely speculated to be considering challenging her for the Tory leadership.
Source: Read Full Article