BORIS Johnson was hailed as the the “last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom” as he moved to get the country ready for a no-deal Brexit.
Making his first statement in the Commons, just 24 hours after replacing Theresa May, the new Tory leader said the UK would “turbo-charge our preparations to ensure that there is as little disruption as possible to our national life”.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator described Johnson’s stance as “unacceptable”.
READ MORE: Chief negotiator fires back at Boris: EU will not budge over Irish backstop
The SNP’s Ian Blackford said MPs would move to stop the Tories taking Scotland out of the EU without a deal.
In his speech, Johnson said the only agreement he would accept with Europe would be one that contained no Irish backstop.
“I would prefer us to leave the EU with a deal – I would much prefer it,” he said.
“I believe that it is possible even at this late stage and I will work flat out to make it happen.
“But certain things need to be clear.
“The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by my predecessor has been three times rejected by this House.
“Its terms are unacceptable to this parliament and this country,” he said.
Johnson added: “No country that values its independence, and, indeed, its self respect, could agree to a treaty which signed away our economic independence and self government as this backstop does,” he said.
The Prime Minister insisted the UK wanted to talk to European negotiators.
“For our part, we will throw ourselves into these negotiations with the greatest energy and determination and in the spirit of friendship,” he said.
“And I hope that the EU will be equally ready and that they will rethink their current refusal to make any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.”
Johnson announced that Michael Gove (pictured left), the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be in charge of no-deal preparations.
As well as a major public relations campaign, Johnson said there would be an “economic package” to boost business including changes to tax rules to incentivise investment in capital and research.
In a leaked memorandum to EU diplomats, Barnier described the speech as “combative”.
“We have to be ready for a situation where he gives priority to the planning for no-deal, partly to heap pressure on the unity of the EU27,” he said.
“In any case, what remains essential on our side is to remain calm, stick to our principles and guidelines and show solidarity and unity of the 27.”
Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson was overestimating the ability of his “hastily thrown together ... hard-right Cabinet” to deliver a new Brexit deal.
“No-one underestimates this country but the country is deeply worried that the new Prime Minister overestimates himself,” he said.
“People do not trust this Prime Minister to make the right choices for the majority of the people in this country when he’s also promising tax giveaways to the richest of big business – his own party’s funders.”
In his reply Blackford described Johnson as the “the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom”.
WATCH: Johnson hailed as 'last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'
The SNP’s Westminster leader hit out at the Tory chief’s “undemocratic” path to power.
“He has been appointed not by this House, not by the people but by the Tory party.
“What have they done?”
Blackford warned Johnson that a no-deal Brexit would cost Scotland 100,000 jobs and that if he tried to “take Scotland and the United Kingdom out of the European Union on a no-deal basis, we will stop him doing so”.
He added: “This House will stop the Prime Minister.
“We will not let him do untold damage to the jobs and constituents of our country.
“Parliament will stop this madness in its tracks.”
Blackford warned the Tory leader that Nicola Sturgeon was now “reviewing the timetable for a second independence referendum”.
Johnson said people had “voted in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and what they want to see is this Parliament delivering on the mandate that they gave us”.
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