Boris Johnson says UK will leave EU on 31 October ‘do or die’
Tory leadership frontrunner hardens his position on Brexit
Boris Johnson says Britain will leave the European Union on 31 October “do or die”. Speaking to Talkradio, the frontrunner in the race for the Tory leadership said: “We are getting ready to come out on 31 October. Come what may. Do or die.”
He also said he would scrap Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement and seek a completely new deal before then. “I mean more than a change,” he said. “It’s got to be, we need a new withdrawal agreement – if we’re going to go out on the basis of a withdrawal agreement.”
Later, on Twitter, Johnson added: “We must keep our promises to the British people and deliver Brexit - no ifs, no buts, and no second referendum.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The former foreign secretary's latest words represent a “hardening of his position” and a newly “toughened Brexit stance”, The Guardian says.
The plan has “been met with dismay in Brussels”, The Times says, but according to the BBC’s Europe editor Katya Adler “EU leaders do not take [Johnson and Jeremy Hunt] at their word when they threaten no deal by the end of October”.
Johnson has challenged his Tory leadership rival to match his commitment to leave by 31 October, but Jeremy Hunt has dismissed his rival’s obsession with the date.
“I think that 31 October come hell or high water is a fake deadline, because it's more likely to trip us into a general election before we've delivered Brexit, and that would hand the keys to Jeremy Corbyn and then we'd have no Brexit at all,” he said.
Hunt says that he would leave the EU without a deal, but not if there was a “prospect of a better deal”. He also suggested that there is a lack of trust in Johnson to fulfil his promises on Brexit.
“Who is the person that we trust to send to Brussels on behalf of the British people and come back with a deal, and that has to be someone that they trust, that they’re prepared to talk to, because in the end you don’t do a deal with someone you don’t trust,” he said.
The winner of the Tory leadership contest will take over from Theresa May on 24 July.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
6 queer poets to read whenever but especially now
The Week Recommends April is National Poetry Month
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
How women's pain is often ignored in health care
the explainer The gap in care is especially glaring compared to how men are treated
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
6 serene homes in Vermont
Features Featuring a four-level Shaker barn in Hartland and a Scandinavian-inspired home in Stowe
By The Week US Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
Fiscal headroom: can the UK afford more tax cuts?
Today's Big Question Lower borrowing costs could give the Chancellor more room for manoeuvre in upcoming Budget
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published