Boris Johnson’s promise of a “new golden age” for post-Brexit Britain was dented last night, when the EU steadfastly refused to consider renegotiating the UK’s withdrawal agreement.
The SNP also dismissed the Tory leader’s boast in his first outing in the Commons in his new role, branding him “the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom”.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier hit out at Johnson’s “unacceptable” call for the Irish backstop to be axed from any new deal.
He also condemned the new Prime Minister’s “combative” Commons statement, in which he declared the UK’s no-deal preparations are being dramatically ramped up.
Johnson told MPs the deal thrashed out by his predecessor Theresa May was “unacceptable to this Parliament and to this country" because of the backstop – which is aimed at ensuring an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in all circumstances.
He said: “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.
“A time limit is not enough. If an agreement is to be reached, it must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop.”
While Johnson vowed to bring the “spirit of friendship” to negotiations with Brussels, he ordered Michael Gove, his Cabinet Office minister, to “turbo-charge” preparations for a no-deal outcome.
The relentlessly aggressive and positive tone of the new PM was lapped up by roaring Tory MPs but went down like a bucket of cold sick in European capitals.
In an email to EU diplomats, Barnier said: “Johnson has stated that if an agreement is to be reached, it goes by way of eliminating the backstop. This is, of course, unacceptable and not within the mandate of the European Council.”
He added: “As suggested by his rather combative speech, 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. No-deal will never be the EU’s choice but we all have to be ready for all scenarios.”
Meanwhile, Michael Creed, Ireland’s agriculture minister, said he was alarmed that Johnson’s new Cabinet was “a mirror image of his own viewpoint”, adding: “Obviously, that would be of concern to us.”
In the Commons, as Johnson laid out his vision for a new Britain, Jeremy Corbyn said the country was “deeply worried the new Prime Minister overestimates himself”.
The Labour leader added: “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.”
Corbyn had Tory MPs oohing when he insisted Labour would “campaign to Remain” if Johnson puts an unsatisfactory Brexit deal back to the public in a second referendum.
But the Labour leader never really landed a blow on Johnson and the Prime Minister mocked him for “metamorphosing”, like a victim of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, into a Remainer.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford had a bit more success, welcoming Johnson to his post as the “last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom”. But after that he too went for familiar tropes.
He claimed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was right to review the timetable for IndyRef2.
Blackford said: “Scotland will not stand by and let decisions be taken by charlatans on our behalf.”
Johnson accused Blackford, as he did all opponents, of “defeatism and pessimism”.
He said: “If we can deliver a fantastic, sensible and progressive Brexit, which I believe we can, and the whole United Kingdom comes out, as I know that it will, what happens then to the arguments of the Scottish National Party?
“Will they seriously continue to say Scotland must join the euro? Will they seriously suggest that Scotland must submit to the entire panoply of EU law?”
In all, Johnson answered 129 questions in his first outing as PM and was on his feet for two-and-half hours.
Meanwhile, Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford joined forces to warn Johnson that it would be “unconscionable” for the UK to leave the EU without a deal.
They hit out at his pledge to take the UK out of the EU “do or die” by October 31, saying such an approach would have “catastrophic consequences”.
In a joint letter to Johnson, the SNP leader and Welsh Labour leader wrote: “It would be unconscionable for a UK Government to contemplate a chaotic no-deal exit, and we urge you to reject this possibility clearly and unambiguously as soon as possible.
“We are also clear that the decision on EU exit must now be put back to the people.”
They urged the new Tory leader to commit that Scotland and Wales would suffer “no financial detriment” as a result of the EU withdrawal process.
Sturgeon and Drakeford also argued that a “significant shift” was needed in relations between Westminster and the devolved administrations, calling for their Governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff to be given “proper respect”.
And they called on his Government to draw up a new immigration policy “that fully meets the distinct needs of each part of the UK”.
They told Johnson: “Your appointment provides an important opportunity to reset relationships for the effective governance of the United Kingdom.
“We ask that you convene a meeting of the heads of Government as soon as possible so that we can discuss these critical issues as a matter of urgency.”
