Boris Johnson delivers maiden speech before House of Commons
Written by Morenike Adebayo on July 25, 2019
Boris Johnson has promised the “beginning of a new golden age”, as he made his first Commons statement as PM.
Speaking to MPs, Mr Johnson said his government would throw itself into Brexit negotiations with energy.
He also assured EU citizens living in the UK they would have “absolute certainty” of their right to live and remain in the country.
On Brexit, he told MPs, minister Michael Gove would make planning for a no-deal Brexit a “top priority”.
Despite emphasising the importance of preparing for a no deal, Mr Johnson said he would “much prefer” to leave the EU with a deal and added that he will work “flat out to make it happen”.
However he told MPs the withdrawal agreement – negotiated by Theresa May with the EU – was “unacceptable to this Parliament and to this country”.
One of the controversial parts of the withdrawal agreement is the Northern Ireland backstop – a mechanism to avoid physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Johnson said other arrangements for the backstop were “perfectly compatible” with the Good Friday Agreement.
On immigration, he told MPs he wanted to change the system and would be asking the Migration Advisory Committee to come up with new proposals.
