Johnson: Blocking no-deal Brexit makes negotiations 'difficult'

(5 Sep 2019) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY



UK POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Wakefield - 5 September 2019

1. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving for address

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister:

"I'm afraid that the bill that was passed yesterday, alas, really makes it much more difficult for us to negotiate. And what it says, it actually draws up, the MPs wrote a letter that the Prime Minister would have to give to Brussels demanding an extension beyond October 31. And then Brussels, the EU, would decide how long the UK was going to remain in the EU. And with the best will in the world, I cannot see how that is democratic unless that is put to the British people. I think if that is really what Parliament wants - to give the EU this power to keep us in the EU themselves (and) to scupper the negotiations - then I think there should be a clear choice for the country. And we should decide: Who do you want to be at that crucial (EU)summit on October 17? Do you want Jeremy Corbyn (leader of the opposition Labour party) going there with his plan to extend and delay and keep us in the EU for forever and a day? Or do you want to settle this thing, bring us all together and deliver on the mandate of the people? And that is what I will do."

3. Cutaway of Johnson addressing police cadets

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister:

"I if I understood you (journalist who asked a question) correctly, you just said that the leader of the opposition (Corbyn) says he cannot trust us, trust me, to hold an election before Brexit. Right, well like I said about five times, how many times do I have to say it: we want an election on October 15 and indeed, you know, earlier if he wants. Let's crack on with it. I really don't see how we can have a situation in which the British ability to negotiate is absolutely torpedoed by Parliament in this way with powers of the British people handed over to Brussels so that we can be kept incarcerated in the EU, without that actually being put to the people in the form of a vote. And, you know, time and time again, Jeremy Corbyn, don't worry I'm going to end very soon." ++JOHNSON TURNS AROUND TO CADET WHO APPEARS TO COLLAPSE BEHIND HIM, ASKING IF SHE IS ALRIGHT, BEFORE RETURNING TO ADDRESS JOURNALISTS++. "I am so sorry. Okay, I think that is a signal for me actively to wind up, okay. Time and time again, Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants a vote. And you know he said he wants an election and here he is; he's got an election absolutely being offered him and he, for reasons I don't quite follow, he seems to be opting out. I leave you to speculate as to why he may be reluctant to do it. But it seems to me that if he wants to avoid a No-Deal Brexit, or if he wants to avoid a hard Brexit, then he should believe in himself to go to Brussels on that crucial summit on October 17 and sort it out. That seems to me to be the obvious thing, but I think what we should do is have an election and decide who goes to get that. Okay folks, thank you all very, very much and thank you all for listening so patiently. So congratulations to all of you on what you are doing and thank you very much for all that you are going to do to all the rest that you're going to take, running towards danger - rather than away from it to make our country and our society safer. Thank you very much, thank you."

5. Pan from Johnson leaving to cadets

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