Boris Johnson gives barnstorming first address to the nation on steps of No10
BORIS Johnson vowed to defeat the “doomsters and gloomsters” in his barnstorming first address to the nation from No10’s steps yesterday.
The new PM used his first public words in the job to say he will end “three years of unfounded self-doubt” by delivering Brexit on October 31, “no ifs or buts”.
The 55-year-old also declared he would “take personal responsibility” for fixing a series of urgent problems, from the social care crisis to school funding and police numbers.
Standing in the blistering mid-afternoon heat outside his new home, Mr Johnson insisted: “Never mind the backstop — the buck stops here.” Boris was made
Britain’s 77th Premier — the job he has lusted after since he was a boy — at 3.15pm during a personal audience with the Queen.
He arrived back in Downing Street from Buckingham Palace at 4pm to cheers from supporters but boos from an anti-Brexit crowd gathering at its gates. In his address, Mr Johnson instantly staked his entire Premiership on leaving the EU in 99 days’ time.
Boris said: “There are pessimists at home and abroad who think after three years of indecision that this country is incapable of honouring a basic democratic mandate.
“I am standing before you today to tell you the British people that those critics are wrong. The doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters — they are going to get it wrong again. The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts because we are going to restore trust in our democracy.”
He added: “I have every confidence that in 99 days’ time we will have cracked it.”
Boris also pledged to do “a new deal, a better deal” with EU chiefs at breakneck speed in the three months before the new deadline. But he also issued a warning to the EU that he was serious about delivering a No Deal Brexit if they refuse him one.
Boris dubbed No Deal “a remote possibility”, and admitted “there will be difficulties” with it. But he added: “With high hearts and growing confidence we will now accelerate the work of getting ready.
“To all those who say we cannot be ready, I say do not underestimate this country. Do not underestimate our powers of organisation and our determination.”
'BUCK STOPS HERE'
Yet he also opened the door to keeping the controversial Irish backstop if it was modified — only ruling out accepting “that anti-democratic backstop” in Theresa May’s collapsed deal.
On the domestic front, Mr Johnson announced a new plan to tackle the growing crisis on how to fund care in old age.
He declared: “We will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared”. The plan will “protect you or your parents or grandparents from the fear of having to sell your home”, he also confirmed — as The Sun revealed he would on Monday.
Boris also pledged immediate action before the autumn school term to equalise “per pupil funding” in primary and secondary schools across England. And he said recruitment for 20,000 more cops to reclaim the streets from knife crime will start immediately.
There was also a promise to plough billions more into Britain’s regions, which means “answering at last the plea of the forgotten people and the left-behind towns”.
He vowed to do his all to hold the United Kingdom together, dubbing the four nations “the awesome foursome that are incarnated in that red white and blue flag who together are so much more than the sum of their parts”.
There was brief praise for Mrs May as he highlighted her “fortitude” and “public service”. Boris decided to go to see the Queen alone, and spent 40 minutes with her as he brushed her hand with his lips — the traditional ritual to appoint PMs.
The Old Etonian is the 93-year-old monarch’s 15th PM, counting Harold Wilson twice. Her first was Sir Winston Churchill. Britain had no PM for around ten minutes, when Mrs May left the palace just after 3pm and before Boris arrived there.
His official silver Jaguar was briefly halted on the Mall when climate change protesters ran out in front of his convoy. Police motorbike outriders dismounted and pushed the Greenpeace protesters off the road.
Police motorbike outriders dismounted and pushed the Greenpeace protesters off the road.
Hundreds of anti-Brexit protesters marched through central London, with some letting off red flares outside Downing Street.
The Met Police said it was “noisy but largely good-natured”.
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During his audience, Boris had to assure the Queen he is able to command a majority in the Commons — expected to drop down to just two after the Brecon by-election next week.
The Queen had to delay her summer holiday to Balmoral to receive Mr Johnson because of the length of the leadership race.
Boris was congratulated by old Oxford friend and one-time nemesis David Cameron yesterday, who tweeted: “It is a great privilege & responsibility — but behind that famous black door you will find the most hugely talented officials waiting & wanting to help you serve the country; I wish you well.”
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