Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
International

New UK PM Johnson Promises Start Of 'Golden Age'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 25 Jul, 2019 08:43 PM

    Boris Johnson on Thursday promised the "beginning of a new golden age", as he made his first Commons statement as the Prime Minister and kicked off his political agenda with a government freshly stocked with more ardent pro-Brexit Ministers.


    Speaking to MPs, Johnson said his government would throw itself into Brexit negotiations with energy and assured EU citizens living in the UK that they would have "absolute certainty" of their right to live and remain in the country.


    On Brexit, he told MPs that Minister Michael Gove would make planning for a no-deal Brexit a "top priority", the BBC reported.


    Despite emphasizing the importance of preparing for a no deal, Johnson said he would "much prefer" to leave the EU with a deal and added that he will work "flat out to make it happen".


    However he told MPs the withdrawal agreement - negotiated by Theresa May with the EU - was "unacceptable to this Parliament and to this country".


    One of the controversial parts of the withdrawal agreement is the Northern Ireland backstop -- a mechanism to avoid physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.


    Johnson said other arrangements for the backstop were "perfectly compatible" with the Good Friday Agreement which which ended decades of strife in Northern Ireland between pro-British unionists and Irish nationalists.


    On immigration, he told MPs he wanted to change the system and would be asking the Migration Advisory Committee to come up with new proposals.


    The former London Mayor also addressed his Cabinet for the first time as Prime Minister. He told the Cabinet they had "a momentous task ahead", as he repeated his commitment for the UK to leave the EU on October 31.


    He took residence at Downing Street after two-thirds of the roughly 160,000 Conservative Party members voted for him to lead the party, taking over from Theresa May, who left the post due to her inability to command a parliamentary majority in her quest to pass the Brexit withdrawal bill, her flagship policy.


    Although some of May's Ministers held onto their jobs, and others took on new titles, Johnson took care to curate his Cabinet in line with his harsher stance on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.


    Former banker Sajid Javid moved from the Home Office to become Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking over from Phillip Hammond, who opted to resign rather than serve under Johnson.


    Dominic Raab, a former Brexit Secretary appointed by May who went on to resign in opposition to the withdrawal deal, becomes Foreign Secretary, taking over as the country's top diplomat from Jeremy Hunt.


    Priti Patel, one of the key figures in Vote Leave who was fired by May for holding undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials, takes on the role of Home Secretary.


    Gavin Williamson, who was also fired by May for leaking information regarding the government's position on Chinese firm Huawei's plan to roll out 5G, is the new Education Secretary.


    Liam Fox was sacked as International Trade Secretary to be replaced by Liz Truss. Former Environment Secretary Michael Gove is now the Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster, a Ministerial post without a portfolio.


    Notably, Dominic Cummings, a campaign director for Vote Leave often credited coming up with the slogan "let's take back control" which was famously painted on the side of a red bus erroneously suggesting the UK spent 350 million pounds a week to be a member of the EU, became Johnson's senior policy advisor.

     

    MORE International ARTICLES

    US-Based Techie Dies During Adventure Biking In Hyderabad

    A US-based software engineer from Hyderabad was killed after a four-wheeled All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) he was riding overturned at a resort in Telangana's Vikarabad district, police said on Wednesday.

    US-Based Techie Dies During Adventure Biking In Hyderabad

    Indian-Origin Man Gurpreet Singh Charged With Killing Wife, In-laws, Aunt In US

    An Indian-origin man has been charged with killing his wife, her parents and her aunt in a shooting rampage that had created fears of anti-Sikh violence in the US state of Ohio.

    Indian-Origin Man Gurpreet Singh Charged With Killing Wife, In-laws, Aunt In US

    2 Sikh Youth Charity Workers Arrested In Counter-Terrorism Probe In UK

    2 Sikh Youth Charity Workers Arrested In Counter-Terrorism Probe In UK
    West Midlands Police said a 38-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were arrested in Birmingham on Wednesday in connection with an ongoing investigation by dating back to September last year.

    2 Sikh Youth Charity Workers Arrested In Counter-Terrorism Probe In UK

    Woman Who Went On Racist, Abusive Rant Against Air India Crew Found Dead

    Simone Burns' lawyer had told the court his client, who worked with refugees around the world, was "totally ashamed of her behaviour"

    Woman Who Went On Racist, Abusive Rant Against Air India Crew Found Dead

    Indian-Origin Truck Driver Gurpreet Singh Arrested In US For Killing Wife, 3 Others Family Members

    A 37-year-old Indian-origin truck driver has been arrested in the US on charges of murdering his wife and three other relatives in April this year, authorities have said.

    Indian-Origin Truck Driver Gurpreet Singh Arrested In US For Killing Wife, 3 Others Family Members

    WATCH: Short Movie On Eminent Sikh American GURINDER SINGH KHALSA Bags Award In United States

    Directed by Jenna Ruiz, the movie ‘SINGH’ was chosen among 100 films submitted for the award in the same category.

    WATCH: Short Movie On Eminent Sikh American GURINDER SINGH KHALSA Bags Award In United States