29.11.2019 | Boris pledges to take UK out of EU before January 31
Source - The Daily Express
The Prime Minister faced LBC callers on Friday morning after receiving staunch criticism for failing to appear on the Channel 4 leaders debate on Thursday night and for failing to confirm whether he will face an Andrew Neil grilling before the election. Asked by LBC host Nick Ferrari whether it would be possible for the UK to leave the EU before January 31 under a Conservative government, Mr Johnson claimed the January deadline set out by the latest Brexit extension letter will be the "absolute latest" day for the UK as a member of the Brussels bloc.
He said: “We will leave. If we can get a working majority Nick, then we will come out on January 31st at the absolute latest.”
Mr Ferrari asked again to confirm the ambitious proposal: “Absolute latest? What do you mean? We’d be out on December 31st if you could?”
The Prime Minister replied: “We would come out as soon as we could, but we would come out on January 31st at the absolute latest.”
At this point, Nick Ferrari asked whether the deadline could be moved to December 31.
He asked: “So it’s possible? New Year’s Eve?
“Have I got to cancel my party?”
Boris Johnson replied: “I’m going to make that pledge because looking at the timetable what we think we can do is January 31st the latest.
“You’re alright, New Year’s Eve goes ahead.
“If we get the withdrawal bill back into the Commons before Christmas, then we’re definitely out by January 31st.”
Mr Johnson also made clear where loyalties lied in terms of having power or delivering the UK's exit from the EU.
Asked if he would rather be prime minister or have Britain leave the EU, he replied: "I would rather get us out of the EU.
"I can tell you that."
|