Boris Johnson says he ‘won’t be deterred’ from Brexit on 31 October
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he “won’t be deterred by anybody” from taking the UK out of the EU on 31 October.
Johnson said he was “cautiously optimistic” of securing a deal a Brexit deal, but reiterated his vow that the UK would leave by the Halloween deadline “whatever happens”.
Read more: Boris Johnson to meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for Brexit talks
The Prime Minister is set to meet with outgoing European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier next week.
But Barnier warned he did not have reason to be confident that the UK and the EU would reach an agreement.
“I can’t objectively tell you whether the contacts we have undertaken with Mr Johnson’s government will lead to an agreement between now and mid-October,” he said.
Under a new law passed before the suspension of parliament, Johnson must seek an extension to the Brexit deadline if he does not secure parliamentary approval for an exit agreement.
Yet Johnson has said he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than ask for a delay.
In response, Commons Speaker John Bercow has vowed to use “creativity” to prevent the Prime Minister from bypassing the law designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Read more: Bercow vows ‘creativity’ to stop Johnson dodging Brexit delay
During his speech in Rotheram this afternoon Johnson was heckled by a protester, who asked why he was not in the House of Commons finding a solution to the Brexit crisis.
“Why are you not with them in parliament sorting out the mess that you have created,” the protester said.
Main image credit: Getty