Boris Johnson news: PM abandons claim no-deal Brexit is ‘one-in-a-million’ risk, amid barrage of abuse on Facebook Q&A
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Speaker John Bercow has vowed to block Boris Johnson from suspending parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit “with every breath in my body”.
Mr Johnson also faced other attacks from more liberal Conservatives on Wednesday.
In a thinly-veiled attack on the Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings, former chancellor Philip Hammond accused the PM of listening to “unelected” saboteurs “who pull the strings” of his government.
Despite the internal party schism, Mr Johnson held his very first “People’s PMQs” event on Facebook, answering questions from the comments section – where he faced a barrage of abuse
The PM admitted a no-deal exit had become “more likely”.
He also failed to rule out a general election in order to thwart attempts to block a crash-out from the EU.
And he accused MPs fighting a no-deal – led by Philip Hammond, the former chancellor – of “a terrible collaboration” with Brussels in order to stop Brexit altogether.
“The awful thing is that the longer that goes on, the more likely it is of course that we will be forced to leave with a no-deal Brexit,” Mr Johnson said.
“That’s not what I want, that’s not what we’re aiming for, but we need our European friends to compromise.
An attempt to prosecute Boris Johnson over the claim that Britain gave the EU £350m a week has been thrown out by a judge.
Our home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden has the details.
Our political correspondent Benjamin Kentish has more on MP Chris Williamson’s decision to sue the Labour party over his suspension.
After accusing Philip Hammond of “hubris” earlier this morning, Iain Duncan Smith has had more to say on no-deal Brexit preparations.
The former Tory leader said Hammond “certainly hasn’t told the truth” about the government’s planning for no-deal exit when he was still the chancellor.
The only way to deliver Brexit and maintain the peaceful status quo in Ireland is to accept a border in the Irish Sea, says Ben Kelly – who explains why there is more flexibility over the backstop and the withdrawal agreement than you might think.
Boris Johnson has began his very first “People’s PMQs” event on Facebook Live, answering questions left for him in the comments section.
But he has, rather predictably, faced a lot of questions from people opposed to no-deal Brexit – and some angry abuse.
A small selection here:
“How am I supposed to live on £60 a week?”
“He couldn’t fix his laces, wears slip ons with R and L on them. Bumbling clown.”
“Deluded if you think he is anything but an idiot!”
“How do you justify removing people’s rights with this Brexit plan?”
“Our prime minister is a well known liar, not trusted by half the population.”
“How do you think in your wildest dreams you can united the country by actively pursuing a catastrophic no-deal Brexit?”
Boris Johnson has said he wanted to take questions “unpasteurised, unmediated” in his first “People’s PMQs” session from Downing Street.
Answering a question about another possible general election, Johnson said he believes the British public have “had a lot” of elections and electoral events in recent years.
He added: “I think what they want us to do is get on and deliver Brexit on 31 October. I never tire of telling you that's what we're going to do.”
Asked how he intends to deliver Brexit, Johnson said: “There’s a terrible kind of collaboration, as it were, going on, between people who think they can block Brexit in Parliament and our European friends.
“And our European friends are not moving in their willingness to compromise, they’re not compromising at all on the withdrawal agreement even though it’s been thrown out three times, they’re sticking to every letter, every comma of the withdrawal agreement – including the backstop – because they still think Brexit can be blocked in Parliament.
“The awful thing is the longer that goes on, the more likely it is of course that we will be forced to leave with a no-deal Brexit.”
Some of the rather cheeky questions Boris Johnson choose not to answer this lunchtime:
“Do you think you will last longer in office than [Theresa May] considering you majority is just one?”
“What’s wrong with a people’s vote? Give the people a final say.”
“Will you please change the benefits system… people are dying.”
Not all questions were entirely serious.
“Boris who is the better centre back – Virgil Van Dijk or Harry Maguire?”
“Will you reduce the price of Freddos from 25p to 10p?”
Ministers are preparing to spend £300m to bring in emergency food and medicine supplies after a no-deal Brexit – including through airlifts.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more details.
Boris Johnson may have embraced new ways of communicating, but Ukip leader Richard Braine has just held an old-fashioned press conference to attack the … press.
Braine has claimed the British press was controlled by a “traitor class” which is “conspiring with foreign powers against the people of this country”.
He said there was an “EU federalist class” controlling the media, as he lashed out at the “bias” in Brexit reporting. Braine cited the change of editor at The Daily Mail and appointment of former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg at Facebook.
“In the last three years we have seen a concerted effort in the media – we’ve seen Geordie Greig installed at the Daily Mail to make sure that it starts to toe the Remainer line,” he told reporters.
“The same thing has happened to some extent at the Express and we’ve seen Sir Nick Clegg getting a very, very well-paid job at Facebook to make sure that nobody can get away with saying what they shouldn’t say on Facebook.”
Dear me. Where do you go when The Daily Express is too left-wing and Remainer for you tastes?
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments