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Boris Johnson news – live: PM apologises for failing to deliver his ‘do or die’ Brexit, as Tory MP steps down amid groping claims

Conservative leader says failure to leave EU in October is matter of ‘deep regret’

Conrad Duncan,Vincent Wood
Sunday 03 November 2019 18:45 GMT
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Boris Johnson has apologised to voters for failing to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October and called the Brexit extension a matter of “deep regret”.

In an interview on Sky News this morning, the prime minister also refused to say what is the naughtiest thing he has ever done after he was asked the question that stumped Theresa May in 2017.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has announced that he will not be standing as an MP in the December election but said he would not be standing down Brexit Party candidates to help the Conservatives win a majority.

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BREAKING: Ross Thomson, the Conservative MP who was accused of sexually assaulting a Labour MP, has announced he will stand down as the MP for Aberdeen South.

Mr Thomson denies the allegations made by Labour's Paul Sweeney and has described the claims as a “political smear”.

He added:

“I always believed politics was about noble pursuits and doing what you believed to be best for your country.

“My experience is that our politics is now so poisonous that we will never attract good, honest and decent people in the first place.”

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 14:50

Mr Thomson, who became the MP for Aberdeen South in 2017, was the spokesperson for the Vote Leave campaign in Scotland before he entered parliament.

He was a supporter of Boris Johnson’s leadership campaign this summer and is known as one of the few “hardline” Brexit-supporting MPs in Scotland.

In 2018, Mr Thomson claimed Theresa May’s deal would not respect the 2016 referendum result because it would have kept the UK too close to the EU.

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 15:04

For more details on Ross Thomson’s announcement, you can read the full story below:

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 15:15

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has announced it will step aside in North Belfast to help DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds’ re-election campaign.

Steve Aiken, the UUP leader, said in a statement that he fears Mr Dodds will be defeated by a Sinn Fein MP.

Mr Aiken added:

“It is better to elect Nigel Dodds in North Belfast and hold him to account for his promises on the Union than facilitate the election of an abstentionist Sinn Fein MP who still cannot condemn IRA violence.”

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 15:21

Labour may be planning to turn Sophie Ridge’s question to Jo Swinson on “misleading” Lib Dem campaign material into an election talking point.

Andrew Gwynne, the shadow secretary for communities and local government, has already shared the confrontation - arguing that the party’s contentious use of polling is an issue of trustworthiness.

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 15:35

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details on the questions raised about Dominic Cummings’ time spent in Russia during the 1990s.

Labour has demanded answers after a whistleblower reportedly came forward with “serious concerns” about Mr Cummings.

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 15:49

The Bank of England is set to downgrade Britain’s economic outlook as prolonged Brexit uncertainty has hurt growth, PA reports.

Economists believe the Bank will slash its current 2020 growth outlook of 1.3 per cent and may also cut the ambitious 2.3 per cent growth forecast for 2021.

The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee warned in its last rates decision over the damage being inflicted by "entrenched" Brexit uncertainty.

Additional reporting by PA

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 16:11

Jeremy Corbyn has responded to Nigel Farage’s decision to not stand in the upcoming general election.

The Labour leader said it was "a bit weird" for Mr Farage to not put himself up for election and commented that the Brexit Party leader is "obviously very comfortable on his MEP's salary."

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 16:19

Dominic Cummings is yet to respond to the alleged “concerns” about his links to Russia reported in The Sunday Times today.

However, a senior Conservative source has told PA:

“Voters deserve better than the conspiracy theories and smears currently emanating from the Labour Party.”

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 16:24

Broadcaster Michael Crick has noted that constituents in Aberdeen South will be picking their ninth MP in 50 years when they vote in December.

Ross Thomson had a majority of 4,752 in the seat and the Conservatives may have fancied their chances of holding onto it - but with a scandal and a new candidate to introduce, they could be at risk of losing to the SNP.

Conrad Duncan3 November 2019 16:42

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