Boris Johnson installs COUNTDOWN CLOCK for Brexit in his office
Something big in the diary, Boris? Johnson buys digital COUNTDOWN CLOCK to put on the wall in his office as Brexit War Cabinet meets amid vow to leave the EU by October 31
- Boris Johnson has bought a digital countdown clock for his new office in No10
- The PM has solemnly pledged to leave the EU by October 31, deal or no deal
- Symbolic move comes as he chairs meeting of Brexit war Cabinet for first time
Boris Johnson has bought a £500 digital countdown clock to put on the wall in his No10 office after he vowed to force Brexit by October 31.
MailOnline understands the PM paid for the clock himself, and had it delivered to Downing Street today as he chairs the first meeting of his Brexit war cabinet.
The move underlines Mr Johnson’s determination to stick to his solemn promise, despite furious of opposition from Remainer MPs and the EU.
Tory Party chairman James Cleverly unveiled a countdown clock at Conservative HQ yesterday.
That one is displayed below a message which reads: ‘We will have delivered Brexit and left the EU by’.
The symbolic step came as the government announced that No Deal preparations are being dramatically ramped up, with budgets doubled to £2.1billion.
The premier has insisted there will be no more negotiations with Brussels until it agrees to ditch the hated Irish backstop and draw up a new Withdrawal Agreement.
But the demand has been flatly dismissed by the EU, while Irish PM Leo Varadkar warned yesterday that he would not be ‘bullied’.
The purchase of the clock underlines Boris Johnson’s (pictured at a policing board meeting last night) determination to stick to his solemn Brexit promise, despite furious of opposition from Remainer MPs and the EU
MailOnline understands the PM paid for the clock himself, and had it delivered to Downing Street today
The package was handed in at the front door of No10 today as the Brexit War Cabinet met
The clock, thought to be similar to this one, is expected to be installed in the PM’s office
Mr Johnson was in Scotland for the first meeting of the Brexit War Cabinet – formally known as the Exit Strategy committee or XS – on Monday.
It was led by Michael Gove, the Government’s No Deal planning supremo, in his absence.
Other members include Chancellor Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.
Unveiling the £2.1billion No Deal fund today, Mr Javid said it will ensure the UK is ready to leave the EU come what may in October.
However, Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, called it an ‘appalling waste of taxpayers’ cash’ and the Commons Public Accounts Committee is likely to scrutinise the funding.
The funding will pay for 500 more Border Force officers, support for passport processing, improved infrastructure at ports and extra cash for Operation Brock – the plan to cope with traffic chaos in Kent.
Supplies of medicines could be hit by disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit, so mitigation plans include increased freight capacity, warehousing and stockpiling.
Mr Javid said: ‘This additional £2.1billion will ensure we are ready to leave on October 31 – deal or no deal.’
The announcement, soon after entering the Treasury under Mr Johnson, is intended to signal a break from Philip Hammond’s era.
The former chancellor was accused by Brexiteers of being reluctant to release cash to prepare for a no-deal exit.
‘It really represents a shift in tone for the Treasury as a department,’ a Whitehall source said.
Michael Gove (pictured in Whitehall today) chaired the first meeting of the Brexit War Cabinet on Monday while Mr Johnson was in Scotland
Chancellor Sajid Javid (right) and Home Secretary Priti Patel were at Tilbury Docks today to highlight spending on upgrading UK borders for Brexit
‘All departments that asked for money for no-deal got it, this was a very expedited process.’
In total the Treasury has made £6.3billion available to prepare for Brexit including £4.2billion this financial year alone.
What will happen during the PM’s first months in power?
Today: Boris Johnson chairs a meeting of the Brexit War Cabinet for the first time.
The Brecon and Radnorshire by-election is being held.
Tory candidate Chris Davies is seeking to regain the seat he was ousted from by a recall petition triggered in the wake of his conviction for submitting false expenses claims. If he fails, the new prime minister’s working majority in the Commons will be cut to just three.
August 24: G7 Summit in Biarritz. The new prime minister’s first appearance at a major global summit.
Donald Trump will be among the world leaders at the gathering, potentially providing the opportunity for a meeting with the controversial US president in an effort to highlight the importance of the special relationship and a future trade deal.
September: The UN General Assembly meeting in New York will provide another opportunity for the new prime minister to appear on the global stage and set out their vision for the country’s place in the world. –
September 29 to October 2: Conservative Party Conference.
The gathering in Manchester will be a key test of the new Tory leader’s ability to unite the party and provides a platform to use their closing speech to address the nation.
October 17-18: EU summit. This is the last schedule meeting of EU leaders before the UK is due to leave the bloc – although an emergency gathering could be called before or afterwards.
October 31: The deadline for reaching a Brexit deal.
Unless there is a further extension, this will be the UK’s last day as a member of the European Union and it will leave, with or without an agreement.
Mr Johnson has ordered planning for a no-deal Brexit to be ramped up, even though he has claimed the odds of it happening are a ‘million to one against’.
The Prime Minister sent his top Europe adviser David Frost to Brussels to deliver his message that the UK will be leaving on October 31 ‘whatever the circumstances’.
And Commons Leader Mr Rees-Mogg said Brussels needed to understand the difference in approach under the new Prime Minister.
Speaking on his ConservativeHome podcast he said: ‘The new Prime Minister is somebody of considerable force of personality who is not going to be browbeaten by them.’
The appointment of Vote Leave mastermind Dominic Cummings as Mr Johnson’s senior aide was an ‘exceptionally important’ statement, he added.
‘That ought to make the EU realise that it is not business as usual. It isn’t a sort of wet establishment that will go along with Brino (Brexit in name only).
‘It is a tough-minded, clear-sighted Government that will accept a decent deal, a fair deal, but will not accept a bad deal and isn’t frightened of leaving.’
Critics tore into the commitment to spend billions on no-deal preparations.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairwoman Meg Hillier told PA: ‘The Prime Minister is carrying out megaphone diplomacy with Brussels and using taxpayers’ money to fund it.
‘Being on a war cabinet footing and making breathless announcements of spending at pace is a long way from delivering anything meaningful at the front line.
‘A lot of this money will have already been committed. But it’s practically impossible to recruit, train and deploy Border Force staff in 91 days.
‘The PAC will continue to look beyond the bluster at the facts, the delivery and follow how taxpayers money is spent. We’ll also be probing how much of this is new funding rather than the release of previously earmarked funding.’
Source: Read Full Article