|  Updated: 

Boris Johnson ‘absolutely’ rules out pre-Brexit general election

By:

Add as a preferred source on Google
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during his visit to the West Midlands Police Learning & Development Centre in Birmingham, central England on July 26, 2019. - Johnson pledged to start recruiting 20,000 new police officers as one of a number of anouncements on his government's domestic policy agenda during his debut statement in the House of Commons as Prime Minister on July 25. Meanwhile, Johnson has deliberately set Britain on a "collision course" with the EU over Brexit negotiations, Ireland's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Friday. (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOBY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images)

Boris Johnson has ruled out calling a general election prior to the Brexit deadline of 31 October.

The Prime Minister said voters did not want to return to the polls for another general election or referendum until the mandate had been completed.

Read more: Ireland foreign minister hits out at Boris Johnson’s “unhelpful” Brexi approach

“What they want us to do is deliver on their mandate to come out of the EU,” he said at a speech in Birmingham. 

It comes as Johnson continues his upheaval of the cabinet, appointing a number of new ministers.

When questioned whether he could assure there would be no election prior to the UK leaving the European Union at the end of October, Johnson said: “absolutely”.

“We want to, and we are going to, deliver on the mandate of the people, which is to take the UK out of the EU whole and entire on 31 October,” he added. 

The new Prime Minister has continued to make a number of changes to lower-ranked jobs since he began overhaul of the cabinet on Wednesday, following his appointment as Tory leader.

Among the changes yesterday, Nick Hurd was appointed as Northern Ireland minister, George Freeman has been given a transport brief, and Michael Ellis is the new solicitor general. 

Read more: Johnson pledges funding for high-speed rail route between Leeds and Manchester

John Glen remains in post as economic secretary to the Treasury and City minister.

Tobias Ellwood committed to supporting Johnson as a backbench MP following his dismissal as defence minister, and pledged to continue fighting for further spending on defence.