The Prime Minister’s new Brexit deal will be delivered to Brussels today, with a message that there will be no delay beyond the October 31 deadline. Mr Johnson will also use his speech at the conference in Manchester to say “we can, we must and we will” get Brexit done. This is because voters feel they are being “taken for fools” by Westminster’s politicians.
He will say: “Voters are desperate for us to focus on their other priorities – what people want, what leavers want, what remainers want, what the whole world wants – is to move on.
“That is why we are coming out of the EU on October 31. Let’s get Brexit done – we can, we must and we will.”
It has also been reported Mr Johnson will unveil a “two borders for four years” plan that will leave Northern Ireland in a relationship with Europe until 2025, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper said: “Major EU capitals” have already been briefed about the plan, which accepts the need for both a regulatory border between Britain and Northern Ireland in the Irish Sea for four years and customs checks between the North and the Irish Republic, the paper reports.
But Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, said last night this was “no basis for an agreement” and “concerning to say the least”.
He told Virgin One’s Tonight Show: “I read that Prime Minister Johnson is going to bring forward a proposal tomorrow. Some are even saying he has been briefing certain EU capitals in relation to these ideas since Tuesday. We haven’t seen anything.”
A Number 10 official said: “The Government is either going to be negotiating a new deal or working on no deal – nobody will work on delay.
“We will keep fighting to respect the biggest democratic vote in British history.”
In a message to MPs seeking to prevent the Prime Minister leaving without a deal on October 31, the source said: “The EU is obliged by EU law only to negotiate with member state governments, they cannot negotiate with Parliament, and this government will not negotiate delay.”
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8.18am update: What will happen during the final day of the conference?
Boris Johnson’s speech is predicted to take place around 11.40am.
PMQ’s with Dominic Raab will take place at noon.
It is not yet known what time the handover of the Prime Minister’s proposed deal will be, but it is also not thought to involve a formal event.
At the conference, there will be a session on strengthening the union with Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack starts 1000. Session on women in the party from 10.40am.
7.30am update: Boris to skip PMQs today to deliver conference speech – and will take aim at Corbyn
Mr Johnson is avoiding Wednesday’s regular session of Prime Minster’s Questions to deliver his conference speech after MPs refused to vote for a Commons recess for the Tory gathering.
The speech will also reportedly target the Labour Party.
Ahead of the election he wants – but has so far been unable to call – Mr Johnson will turn his fire on Jeremy Corbyn.
He will say: “Corbyn wants to turn the whole of 2020 – which should be a great year for this country – into the chaos and cacophony of two more referendums – a second referendum on Scottish independence, even though the people of Scotland were promised that the 2014 vote would be a once-in-a-generation vote, and a second referendum on the EU, even though we were promised that the 2016 vote would be a once-in-a-generation vote.
“Can you imagine another three years of this? That is the Corbyn agenda – stay in the EU beyond October 31, paying a billion pounds a month for the privilege, followed by years of uncertainty for business and everyone else.
“My friends, I am afraid that after three-and-a-half years people are beginning to feel that they are being taken for fools.
“They are beginning to suspect that there are forces in this country that simply don’t want Brexit delivered at all.
“And if they turn out to be right in that suspicion then I believe there will be grave consequences for trust in democracy.
“Let’s get Brexit done on October 31 so in 2020 our country can move on.”
