Boris Johnson news: PM faces fresh court action over Brexit ‘lies’, amid more jeers on UK tour as Irish leaders unite against him

PM faces unified anger over 'catastrophic' Brexit policy

Boris Johnson: The Brexit backstop is dead

Boris Johnson has faced unified anger over his “catastrophic” Brexit policy as he met politicians at Stormont on the third day of his UK tour.

The new PM was also criticised for "wining and dining" the Democratic Unionist Party – whose MPs propped up Theresa May’s government – ahead of talks aimed at restoring powersharing in Northern Ireland.

Amid growing speculation over the prospect of an early general election, Mr Johnson was warned the Tories could be “annihilated” at the polls unless the UK leaves the EU by Halloween.

Elsewhere, video footage emerged of Mr Johnson’s top aide, Dominic Cummings, claiming that Tory MPs do not care about poorer people.

This live article has now ended. Recap how we covered developments as they happened below:

Key Points

• Boris Johnson faces Supreme Court bid to make him stand trial for Brexit 'lies'
• Johnson met with jeers and unified anger from Irish leaders on third day of UK tour
• DUP's Arlene Foster accuses EU of being 'belligerent" over Brexit
• Labour would be 'off our rockers' not to back remain in referendum, says Thornberry
• Tories could be 'annihilated' at the polls if Brexit is not delivered, says Farage

[31 July 2019 19:02 · Chris Baynes]

Boris Johnson has told the high-ranking team tasked with helping recruit 20,000 new police officers that the ambitious project could be completed within three years.

The prime minister gave an opening speech to the newly established national policing board at its first meeting at the Home Office this afternoon.

Chaired by home secretary Priti Patel, the team includes Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Sir Stephen House and head of counter-terrorism policing Neil Basu, among others.

Johnson told the board's first meeting that its creation was an "absolutely crucial development" amid fears of a knife crime epidemic.

"We need to be getting crime down. We've done very well in some respects but too many crime types have been going in the wrong direction," the PM said. "And we can crack it. The answer is, I think, that you need strong, visible policing."

He added: "[Chancellor Sajid Javid) is going to provide the money. And we will get it done in the course of the next three years."

Johnson's recruitment pledge has been widely welcomed, but there have been questions about how the goal will be achieved.

College of Policing chief executive Mike Cunningham warned of a series of "logistical challenges", following the closure of police stations across the country.

The Home Affairs Committee also said in a report published today that increased police numbers would not undo the damage caused by a “perfect storm” of austerity, school exclusions and protection failings.

[31 July 2019 20:39 · Chris Baynes]

That's all from us for today - thanks for reading.