Boris Johnson vows to heal bitter Brexit divisions as Britain leaves the EU after 47 years at 11pm

BORIS Johnson last night vowed to heal bitter Brexit divisions when  Britain leaves the EU on the stroke of 11pm.

He said: "There are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss.

“I understand all those feelings, and our job as the government – my job – is to bring this country together now and take us forward

“And the most important thing to say tonight is that this is not an end but a beginning.”

He said: “We want this to be the beginning of a new era of friendly cooperation.

“Between the EU and an energetic Britain.”

But he also declared muscle-bound Britain will make “a stunning success” of Brexit.

After 47 years of Brussels membership, and 1,317 days on from 2016’s landmark EU referendum, the UK became a fully sovereign state again.

'WE WILL REDISCOVER OUR MUSCLES'

In an address to the nation from No10, the PM heralded how our new future will be bright because “we have taken back the tools of self-government”.

Seizing on a spirit of optimism, he called for the country to unite.

Boris declared: “We will rediscover muscles that we have not used for decades, the power of independent thought and action”.

The PM, had earlier visited a  glass factory in Sunderland — the first city to back Brexit when the 2016 referendum votes were counted.

There he staged a symbolic meeting of the whole Cabinet.

Mr Johnson who had lead the triumphant Leave campaign, marked last night’s moment of history with a red, white and blue light show blasted onto No10’s facade.

An image of Big Ben filled the building in a riposte to Commons bosses who refused to reconnect the clock’s bells to bong in Brexit.

The chapter closed on nearly four of the most choppy years in modern political history that saw two General Elections, and two PMs fall.

As the country marked Brexit:

•  A Series of former British leaders came together to urge the country to look forward, including passionate Remainer Tony Blair
• The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a heartfelt plea for national unity, urging Remainers and Leavers to finally bury the hatchet
• Sad EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she would miss the UK’s “very down to earth” approach as Brussels took down its Union Jacks

Business chiefs called for a good trade deal with the EU as an 11-month transition period began.

At 11pm — midnight in Brussels — all British citizens cease to also be EU citizens.
The country’s 73 MEPs quit their posts, the Department for Exiting the EU was disbanded and Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay left the Cabinet.

But little else will change immediately.

All existing EU arrangements will continue until December 31, including the right to work and go on holiday across the 28 countries.

The UK’s £10billion a year contributions to the EU budget will also continue to be paid until the end of the year.

Mr Johnson, 55, hosted a celebration party for aides and ministers in No10 — but stayed out of public view in a bid not to look too triumphant for heartbroken Remainers.

Instead, he released a pre-recorded video message to the nation at 10pm.

It was only relayed over Downing Street social media’s sites. The BBC and ITV refused to air it because No10 aides refused to let them film it.

In his message, Boris vowed to heal bitter Brexit divisions.

He said the nation was split in three ways, between jubilant Leavers, sorrowful Remainers and the frustrated middle who just wanted an end to the saga — the group he dubbed “the biggest”.

He warned of “bumps in the road ahead” as complex trade negotiations begin with the EU.

'STRIVE TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT'

But he also pledged a domestic revolution, as he insisted  “the biggest revival of our infrastructure since the Victorians” will be rolled out to “spread hope and opportunity to every part of the UK”.

Dubbing it “the dawn of a new era”, Boris added: “This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act in our great national drama.

“It is partly about using these new powers — this recaptured sovereignty — to deliver the changes people voted for, whether that is by controlling immigration or creating freeports or liberating our fishing industry or doing free trade deals”.

Three former PMs yesterday called for all Brits to embrace Brexit, no matter what position they originally took on it. They even included ex-Labour PM Tony Blair, 66, who was one of the biggest critics of our EU exit.

Accepting the political reality for the first time, he called on Brits to now “strive to make the best of it”.

He said: “Brexit is happening, and our attitude now should be to approach it with determined optimism, not looking over our shoulders in unrequited longing for what was”.

'BRITAIN NOT OUT OF THE WOODS'

Ousted former PM Theresa May, 63, tweeted: “After more than three years, we can finally say that we have delivered on the result of the 2016 referendum and have kept faith with the British people”. David Cameron, 53, said he believed the UK will be able to make a success of Brexit, despite leading the Remain campaign in 2016, hailing it “a very big day” for Britain.

Business bosses said while they are relieved a No Deal exit had been avoided, Britain will not be out of the woods until a deep trade deal with Brussels is in place.

CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, 59,  said: “Now the real work begins. It’s time to focus on the future and build a new relationship with Europe.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby issued a heartfelt plea for national unity.  Mr Welby, 64, insisted: “We must be united in a common vision for our country, however great our differences on achieving it.

“A common hope for what we want to happen, and what we want to do in the years to come”.

In Brussels, officials lowered the Union Jack outside Parliament, at just after 8pm local time and replaced it with an EU one.

They struggled to get it down while battling strong winds, with the process taking two minutes.

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