Boris Johnson set to unveil 'final offer' Brexit deal during conference speech

1 October 2019, 22:06

Boris Johnson is set to unveil his plan for a Brexit deal during his first Conservative Party Conference speech - but Number 10 say this will be the UK's final offer.

During the keynote speech, the Prime Minister is expected to reveal details of a “fair and reasonable compromise” that all sides can agree and build on.

But British officials have made clear to EU counterparts that the legal texts which will be presented to the European Union are a final offer and unless Brussels is prepared to engage there will be no more talks until after Brexit on October 31.

In his speech, Mr Johnson will also claim some members of the public “are beginning to feel that they are being taken by fools” and call to get Brexit done so “our country can move on.”

They also made it clear that the Prime Minister will not negotiate a delay at the EU Council on October 17-18.

The PM will use his speech on Wednesday to contrast his position with Jeremy Corbyn’s policy of constant delay on Brexit.

He is expected to say: “Voters are desperate for us to focus on their other priorities - what people want, what leavers want, what remainers want, what the whole world wants – is to move on.

“That is why we are coming out of the EU on October 31. Let’s get Brexit done - we can, we must and we will.

“Corbyn wants to turn the whole of 2020 – which should be a great year for this country – into the chaos and cacophony of two more referendums - a second referendum on Scottish independence, even though the people of Scotland were promised that the 2014 vote would be a once in a generation vote, and a second referendum on the EU, even though we were promised that the 2016 vote would be a once in a generation vote.

“Can you imagine another three years of this? That is the Corbyn agenda – stay in the EU beyond October 31, paying a billion pounds a month for the privilege, followed by years of uncertainty for business and everyone else.

“My friends, I am afraid that after three and a half years people are beginning to feel that they are being taken for fools.

“They are beginning to suspect that there are forces in this country that simply don’t want Brexit delivered at all.

“And if they turn out to be right in that suspicion then I believe there will be grave consequences for trust in democracy.

“Let’s get Brexit done on October 31 so in 2020 our country can move on.”

A senior Number 10 official said: “The Government is either going to be negotiating a new deal or working on no deal — nobody will work on delay.

“We will keep fighting to respect the biggest democratic vote in British history. The EU is obliged by EU law only to negotiate with member state governments, they cannot negotiate with Parliament, and this government will not negotiate delay.”