Boris Johnson promised British lawmakers that he will work “flat out” to meet the October 31 Brexit deadline and called on Brussels to rethink its opposition to renegotiate a more acceptable deal in his first speech as Prime Minister in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Johnson, who took over from Theresa May after a leadership election fought on the basis of getting Brexit done – with or without a deal, reaffirmed his stance on striking a better deal with the European Union (EU) within 98 days' time.
“Our mission is to deliver Brexit on the 31st of October for the purpose of uniting and re-energising our great United Kingdom and making this country the greatest place on earth… I will work flat out to make it happen,” Johnson said, delivering a parliamentary statement in his characteristic exuberant style.
“There is every chance that in 2050, when I fully intend to be around, though not necessarily in this job, we will look back on this period, this extraordinary period, as the beginning of a new golden age for our United Kingdom,” he said.
While Brexit was at the heart of Johnson's first Parliament address, he took questions from MPs on a range of subjects and pledged extra police on the streets, investment in education and healthcare. On the sticky issue of immigration, he confirmed that he will be launching a radical review of the visa system to introduce an Australian-style points-based system.
“No-one believes more strongly than me in the benefits of migration to our country. But I am clear that our immigration system must change. For years, politicians have promised the public an Australian-style points based system…I will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a review of that system as the first step in a radical rewriting of our immigration system,” he said.
But the bulk of his first parliamentary address was focussed on Brexit, including a categorical stand against the controversial Irish backstop – which has deeply divided all sides of the Commons.
“The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by my predecessor has been three times rejected by this House. Its terms are unacceptable to this Parliament and to this country…If an agreement is to be reached it must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop,” he said, addressing the most controversial aspect of May's Brexit agreement which led to its repeated defeat in Parliament and ultimately ended her premiership.
In a clear message to Brussels to return to the negotiating table, the new Prime Minister said his team was ready to negotiate an alternative in good faith, with provisions to ensure that the Irish border issues are dealt with in the negotiations on the future agreement between the UK and the EU.
“For our part, we will throw ourselves into these negotiations with the greatest energy and determination and in the spirit of friendship. And I hope that the EU will be equally ready and that they will rethink their current refusal to make any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement,” he said, renewing his warning of being ready to leave the 28-member economic bloc without a deal in place.