Boris Johnson news: PM confident 'our friends in the EU' will change Brexit position as No 10 refuses to recall parliament

Boris Johnson says he is confident in exiting October 31

No 10 has rejected Labour’s call for Boris Johnson to recall parliament to debate Brexit, as Jeremy Corbyn vowed to block a no-deal exit and called the prime minister “Britain’s Trump”.

The PM claimed he was “confident” that “our friends and partners” in the EU would change their stance on the backstop and come up with a negotiated deal.

It comes as Downing Street reacts with fury to the publication of the “Operation Yellowhammer” dossier setting out the negative impacts of a crash-out departure. The Home Office, meanwhile, plans to end the free movement of EU citizens on day one of no deal.

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Key Points

• Corbyn calls Johnson 'Britain's Trump' and 'hard right'
• Downing Street rejects calls to recall parliament
• Johnson 'confident' EU will change its backstop stance
• Freedom of movement will end on day one of no-deal Brexit
• No 10 says ex-minister 'deliberately leaked' Yellowhammer dossier

[19 August 2019 11:48 · Adam Forrest]

Journalists having a slightly hard time asking questions here in Corby, with Jeremy Corbyn supporters booing a reporting asking about the lack of support the Labour leader has in parliament to become a caretaker PM.

The Labour leader says there’s a lot of “what iffery” about in the media about what might happen in September and October, but insists “precedent” suggests he will have the right to try to form a government if Boris Johnson loses a no-confidence vote.

[19 August 2019 11:57 · Adam Forrest]

Now it’s over to Boris Johnson, who has been speaking to NHS nurses and patients on a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

The PM meets a patient during his tour of a hospital in Truro (Reuters) 

[19 August 2019 12:27 · Adam Forrest]

The moment Corbyn supporters booed a reporter asking the Labour leader if he could make wait for an alternative caretaker PM.

[19 August 2019 12:40 · Adam Forrest]

No 10 has rejected calls for parliament to be recalled to discuss the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

“The House of Commons agreed the date it would rise for summer recess, as well as its return on 3 September and this was passed by a majority of close to 200 MPs,” the spokeswoman said.

The Downing Street spokeswoman also said “freedom of movement as it currently stands will end on 31 October when the UK leaves the EU”.

“So for example we will introduce, immediately, much tougher criminality rules for people entering the UK.

“Details of other changes immediately on 31 October for a new immigration system are currently being developed.

“The prime minister has obviously been clear that we want to introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system.”

Further details will be set out by the PM and home secretary Priti Patel shortly, she added.

The Independent reported over the weekend that the Home Office had drawn up plans to end freedom of movement for EU citizens from day one of a no-deal Brexit.

[19 August 2019 12:51 · Adam Forrest]

Boris Johnson has been asked about the Operation Yellowhammer documents.

“I’m not going to suggest that there won’t be – as I said on the steps of Downing Street – there may well be bumps in the road but we will be ready to come out on 31 October deal or no deal.

“Now of course our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel are showing a little bit of reluctance at the moment to change their position.

“That’s fine – I’m confident that they will – but in the meantime we have to get ready for a no deal outcome.

“I want a deal. We’re ready to work with our friends and partners to get a deal but if you want a good deal for the UK, you must simultaneously get ready to come out without one.”

When asked whether progress would be made during upcoming talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, the PM replied:

“Well that is, I’m afraid, very much up to our friends and I hope that they will compromise.

“They have seen that the UK parliament has three times rejected the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop just doesn't work, it's not democratic and I hope that they will see fit to compromise but in the meantime we get ready to come out on 31 October.”

[19 August 2019 13:05 · Adam Forrest]

According to YouGov 44 per cent of people agree with Jeremy Corbyn that Boris Johnson is “Britain’s Trump” and think that’s a bad thing. Only 12 per cent agree he’s Britain’s Trump – and think that’s a good thing.

[19 August 2019 13:20 · Adam Forrest]

[19 August 2019 13:35 · Adam Forrest]

Our chief political commentator John Rentoul thinks Boris Johnson could learn a thing or two from the situation faced by Pitt the Younger in 1783.

[19 August 2019 13:55 · Adam Forrest]

Here’s our associate editor Sean O’Grady on Jeremy Corbyn’s approach to dealing with the Brexit crisis.

[19 August 2019 14:12 · Adam Forrest]

Boris Johnson will make his first foreign trip as prime minister this week, meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday.

“It won’t all be about Brexit, but we’ll be sure to remind people of our accelerated work to leave come what may,” one No 10 official told the Financial Times.

“The key message will be: if you’re watching what’s going on in parliament and think it will stop Brexit and you don’t need to negotiate with us, don’t be mistaken. The prime minister will give a very clear message: we are leaving, we’re gone on October 31,” another official said.