Boris Johnson ramps up no-deal Brexit threat as he promises ‘new golden age’ for Britain outside the EU

Boris Johnson ramped up no-deal preparations today as he promised a “new golden age” for Britain outside the European Union.

In his first Commons statement, the new Prime Minister startled MPs with a highly optimistic vision of Britain overtaking Germany to become the “most prosperous economy in Europe” within 30 years.

Echoing US President Donald Trump, Mr Johnson said his mission was to make Britain “the greatest place on earth”. He added to Opposition jeers: “I’m conscious that some may accuse me of hyperbole.”

He also stoked expectations of an early general election by branding Jeremy Corbyn “a Remainer” following Labour’s commitment to a referendum that would include cancelling Brexit as an option.

But at the heart of his statement was a commitment to “turbocharge” no-deal preparations, with money no object in a national plan organised by Michael Gove to get ready for Brexit by October 31.

“I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to mobilise the Civil Service to deliver this outcome should it become necessary,” the Prime Minister said. “And the Chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available.” 

Mr Johnson was cheered loudly by many Tory MPs when he took his seat by the Despatch Box — though some stayed quiet. Before long he had MPs either baying in disbelief or bellowing in support as he reached the rhetorical heights of optimism.

“By 2050 it is more than possible that the United Kingdom will be the greatest and most prosperous economy in Europe, at the centre of a new network of trade deals that we have pioneered,” he told the Commons in a speech calculated to send a clear message that he has no fear of marching out of the EU, with or without a deal.

Painting a picture of an economy powered by the electric car and artificial intelligence industries, he offered a vision of brand new rail and road links, digital connectivity, better health and education where “our children and grandchildren will be living longer, happier, healthier, wealthier lives”.

He concluded: “There is every chance that in 2050 … we will look back on this period, this extraordinary period, as the beginning of a new golden age for our United Kingdom.”

That was too much for the SNP’s Pete Wishart who tweeted: “He is totally, totally bonkers. This is just delusional twaddle.”

Mr Johnson said he wanted a deal with the EU, but that the backstop had to be scrapped. “If they do not we will of course have to leave the EU without an agreement,” he stated.

He claimed European Union leaders would show greater flexibility, and in an olive branch, guaranteed rights for the 3.2 million EU citizens in the UK.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn blasted Mr Johnson’s plans for Brexit in his first face-to-face clash with the new Prime Minister. “There is something eerily familiar about a Prime Minister marching off to Europe with demands to scrap the backstop,” he mocked. “So how does the Prime Minister think he will succeed where his predecessor failed?”

He also took aim at Mr Johnson’s new Cabinet, which he described as “hastily thrown together” and “hard-Right”, and claimed the Prime Minister would “make us a vassal state to Trump’s America”.

The PM hit back in electioneering form by saying the Tories were now “the party of the people”, saying Labour had turned against Brexit.

Jacob Rees-Mogg made his debut as Commons leader with a stream of good humoured ripostes to opposition MPs. In a personal volte-face, he publicly abandoned his past support for suspending Parliament to allow the UK to leave with no deal by default.

“The Prime Minister says he views prorogation as an archaic mechanism and does not wish to see archaic mechanisms used,” he explained. “As I am now bound by collective responsibility, that is now also my view.” 

Earlier, Mr Johnson stamped his authority on the new Cabinet at its first meeting by declaring that “all of us” were committed to leaving by October 31. 

Determined to hit the ground running, Mr Johnson let it be known that he does not intend to take a summer holiday.

Mr Johnson was flanked by Chancellor Sajid Javid on his left and Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill to his right.

In opening remarks he told the room it was “wonderful to see this new team assembled here reflecting, I think, the depth and breadth of talent in our extraordinary party”.

He added: “As you all know we have a momentous task ahead of us, at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.  We are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on October 31 or indeed earlier — no ifs, no buts.

“But we are not going to wait until October 31 to get on with a fantastic new agenda for our country, and that means delivering the priorities of the people.”

The famous boat-shaped Cabinet table was extended for the first time since the Coalition years to accommodate 33 ministers attending Cabinet. While the total Cabinet size remains the same as under Theresa May at 23 ministers, the number of those with permission to attend rose from seven to 10.

The rectangular extension accommodated six ministers, including Mr Johnson’s brother Jo, who returns to his former job as universities minister, and Esther McVey, who leads the Blue Collar Conservatism group and ran for leader herself. 

Mr Johnson finished his bloody first Cabinet reshuffle, involving 17 resignations and sackings, by promoting Jake Berry, the minister for the Northern powerhouse project, to have the status of attending Cabinet.

Further middle-ranking and junior ministerial appointments were due  this afternoon.