Boris Johnson news: PM insists he can do new Brexit deal despite admitting EU leaders refusing to ‘change their position’

UK on 'almost inevitable path to no-deal Brexit', warns Sturgeon after first meeting with PM

Who is in Boris Johnson's cabinet?

Boris Johnson secretly wants a no-deal Brexit, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed after his first meeting with Scotland’s first minister.

The new prime minister faced a frosty reception north of the border, with Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, having warned about the impact of his Brexit policy.

He arrived at Bute House, Ms Sturgeon’s official residence in Edinburgh, to boos from a crowd of independence campaigners and pro-EU demonstrators gathered across the street.

Mr Johnson will also travel to Wales and Northern Ireland later in the week as part of a whistle-stop UK tour designed to show he is a “passionate believer” in the union.

But following talks with Ms Sturgeon, the first minister warned Mr Johnson’s government had set the country on an “almost inevitable path to a no-deal Brexit” and was “dangerous” for Scotland.

She said: “I think that this is a government that is pursuing a no-deal strategy, however much they may deny that in public.

“If he were in this room right now, he would deny this vehemently, but I think he wants a no-deal Brexit.”

Downing Street insisted the government’s preference was to negotiate a new Brexit deal, but admitted the EU was refusing to budge on the Northern Ireland backstop and said “the UK will be leaving the EU on October 31st come what may”.

A Number 10 spokesman added Mr Johnson would “work tirelessly to strengthen the United Kingdom and improve the lives of people right across Scotland”.

This live article has now ended. Here’s how we covered developments as they happened:

Key Points

• Boris Johnson to meet Nicola Sturgeon on first trip to Scotland as prime minister
• ... but faces a frosty reception from Scottish Tories over no-deal Brexit support
• UK government planning for direct rule in Northern Ireland in event of no-deal exit
• Investigation into former minister who manhandled protester dropped
• Vauxhall set to close UK factory if no-deal Brexit happens, with loss of 1,000 jobs

[29 July 2019 11:48 · Benjamin Kentish]

NEW: Boris Johnson will move into Downing Street with his girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, today, a Downing Street spokesman has confirmed. 

[29 July 2019 11:59 · Benjamin Kentish]

Peter Mandelson has called for Jeremy Corbyn to step down, saying the party needs a leader who can "stand up to [Boris] Johnson",

The Labour peer and former cabinet minister told Italian newspaper La Stampa:

“Corbyn is not the leader that Labour needs at this time. He cannot deliver. Even his supporters are realising this.

“We need an alternative who can stand up to Johnson and lead the country against the disaster which is in the making.”

[29 July 2019 12:09 · Benjamin Kentish]

Boris Johnson still has not spoken to Leo Varadkar, the Irish premier, No10 has confirmed.

The PM’s official spokesperson said:

“He has not spoken to Leo Varadkar. He has obviously spoken to a number of leaders since last Wednesday and those calls will continue in the coming days.

“He has obviously been travelling quite a lot as well but you can expect more calls… We would never tell people in advance but he will speak to lots of leaders in the coming days.”

Mr Johnson is keen to meet EU leaders but “not to sit down and be told that the EU cannot possibly reopen the Withdrawal Agreement’, the spokesperson said.

They . added: “The PM wants to leave with a deal and we hope that the EU will change their position on the withdrawal act and the backstop.”

[29 July 2019 12:20 · Benjamin Kentish]

This is an interesting poll. Wales was typically a key stronghold for Labour but according to this YouGov survey, the party is now in second place, behind Plaid Cymru. 

[29 July 2019 12:48 · Benjamin Kentish]

A no-deal Brexit would dominate British politics "for years to come" a respected think-tank has warned.

The Institute for Government said no deal would "dominate Whitehall" and "preoccupy the work of the civil service for years to come".

It predicted that there would be would be at least 16,000 officials working on it by the autumn, and that this number could increase further. 

And it said the government would need to impose direct rule on Northern Ireland if there was a no-deal Brexit.

The think-tank said:

"Introducing direct rule could have immediate and long-lasting political repercussions. It would see the UK government rolling back devolution – and a key part of the Good Friday Agreement – as part of its decision to leave the EU without a deal. Nonetheless, a responsible government would have a bill providing for direct rule in the event of a no-deal exit on the statute book before 31 October."

[29 July 2019 13:09 · Benjamin Kentish]

Full story: Boris Johnson will move into the bigger Downing Street flat today, leaving the smaller one for Sajid Javid, the chancellor, and his family

[29 July 2019 13:32 · Benjamin Kentish]

 Opinion: Boris Johnson's no-deal Brexit optimism will just push Scotland to file divorce papers too, writes Sean O'Grady 

[29 July 2019 13:39 · Benjamin Kentish]

NEW: Former Foreign Office minister Mark Field, who was suspended from his job after being recorded manhandling a female climate change protester, has "left the government", No10 has said.

A spokesperson said: "The current PM considers this issue was a matter for the previous PM concerning his conduct during his time as a minister under her appointment."

[29 July 2019 13:54 · Benjamin Kentish]

Boris Johnson has been speaking during a visit to the Faslane naval base in Scotland. 

The prime minister insisted there was "amble scope" for the UK and EU to agree a new Brexit deal, but that the government was preparing for a no-deal outcome "very actively and with great confidence".

He said he had had "interesting conversations" with European leaders but admitted there was "no change in their position". 

He said:

"They all know where we are, we can't accept the backstop, it was thrown out three times, it won't work, the Withdrawal Agreement as it stands is dead. I think everybody gets that.

"But there is ample scope to do a new deal, to do a new deal and a better deal.

"But at the same time it is right, as the government has said for the last three years, to prepare for no deal and we're also going to be doing that very actively and with great confidence."

[29 July 2019 13:56 · Benjamin Kentish]

Full story: Tory government drops investigation into former minister who grabbed female protester and pinned her against wall