Boris Johnson news: Outrage over PM’s Jo Cox Brexit comments, as he dismisses MPs’ fears of death threats and ignores calls to quit

Wednesday's explosive Commons session, as it happened

Boris Johnson calls on Jeremy Corbyn and the opposition to table a motion of no confidence in the government

Boris Johnson has put in a defiant Commons performance in the wake of his Supreme Court defeat, ignoring calls to resign and mocking Labour for failing to back a general election. But he drew anger for suggesting that the best way of honouring Jo Cox’s memory was to “get Brexit done”.

The prime minister accused MPs of “political cowardice” and demanded parliament “step aside” to allow him to deliver Brexit. He attacked Jeremy Corbyn for claiming to want a general election but voting against it – as Labour’s Hilary Benn said the PM had “no mandate, no majority, no credibility”.

But the flashpoint of the evening was Mr Johnson’s refusal to tone down his language around what he has called the “surrender bill” – the Benn legislation designed to block no-deal Brexit – and his decision to dismiss complaints by MPs that they have been subjected to death threats as “humbug”.

After repeated calls to moderate his words, the PM further said, in response to the new MP for Batley and Spen, Tracy Brabin, that he believed “the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and indeed the best to bring this country together would be, I think, to get Brexit done”.

MPs reacted with fury, while Ms Cox’s widower Brendan said he felt “a bit sick at Jo’s name being used in this way”. Mr Johnson even faced rebukes from his own side, with cabinet minister Nicky Morgan tweeting that “at a time of strong feelings we all need to remind ourselves of the effect of everything we say on those watching us”.

But there were angry and borderline abusive contributions from MPs across the House on the first day back since prorogation was ruled unlawful.

The bad-tempered clashes came after attorney general Geoffrey Cox said he would consider publishing the legal advice which led to the unlawful prorogation, but also railed against the “dead parliament” and claimed MPs had no “moral right” to remain in the Commons.

He, the prime minister and Jacob Rees-Mogg all taunted Labour for failing to vote for a general election. Jeremy Corbyn and Mr Johnson sparred over the issue on which they have each imposed their own conditions; an Article 50 extension and leaving the EU, respectively.

Tomorrow, the government will introduce a motion seeking a conference recess for next week.

Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP, tweeted at the end of the night: “Not sure we can look the nation in the eye & say that was a good day at the office. The maths is simple. This is a minority Gov. We need a couple dozen friends to support a Brexit deal. There was nothing friendly about today. Let’s learn from this.”

See how we covered this story live

Key Points

• PM urges 'get Brexit done' to honour Jo Cox
• Boris Johnson challenges opposition parties to table confidence vote...
• ...Despite Corbyn's refusal to call vote on PM yet
• Attorney general Geoffrey Cox claims 'this parliament is dead'

[25 September 2019 23:05 · Jon Sharman]

"Think of the strain the prime minister is under," said Sir Bernard Jenkin in response to the suggestion he should be ashamed of Boris Johnson's words earlier on.

It was not a popular line among his fellow guests on Newsnight. He did say he would not have called complaints of death threats by MPs "humbug", as the PM did, however.

[25 September 2019 23:17 · Jon Sharman]

A cabinet minister writes...

Another top Johnson employee offers a rebuke, although a less-than-scathing one, of the PM's words.

[25 September 2019 23:28 · Jon Sharman]

Tory Brexit rebel Amber Rudd has condemned Boris Johnson's "humbug" comments as "dishonest and dangerous".

The PM's response to Labour's Paula Sheriff, said: "It starts to ramp up people's behaviour against the MPs and against different people."

The former home and work and pensions secretary added: "I was in the tea room today and lots of MPs were exchanging information about how they had seen the ramping up of threats against them.

"One of them said to me, he had a new group of people come up to him in the supermarket and say, 'I know where you live'."

[25 September 2019 23:31 · Jon Sharman]

Some MPs aren't angry, they're just disappointed.

[25 September 2019 23:45 · Jon Sharman]

Thanks for tuning in folks. Guess Mr Ellwood gets the last word.