Tory conference 2019: These are the biggest news stories so far
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Welcome to our wrap up of all of the announcements coming out of the Conservative Party Conference 2019.
The Prime Minister is currently making his big Tory conference speech.
Boris Johnson gives Tory conference speech
Boris Johnson has said that “under no circumstances” will the UK agree to checks at or near the Northern Ireland border.
He insisted the UK has tried to compromise to secure a deal, but said that if negotiations failed “let us be in no doubt” that a no-deal Brexit would occur.
He said “it is an outcome for which we are ready” to much applause from delegates.
“Let’s get Brexit done by October 31,” he added.
Johnson also said he had “an ace up my sleeve”: “My mother voted Leave,” he revealed.
He is set to announce a “final offer” on Brexit to the EU, but sterling is languishing as traders widely expect the EU to summarily reject the ‘two borders, four years’ pitch.
Here’s the details of that bid:
“Only by delivering Brexit do we address that feeling in much of the country that they have been left behind,” Johnson said.
Nigel Farage fears Johnson will ‘reheat’ Theresa May Brexit deal
Nigel Farage has accused the Prime Minister of trying to “reheat” former PM Theresa May’s Brexit deal, which parliament rejected three times.
In his speech to the Tory party conference, Johnson paid tribute to his predecessor Theresa May. Brexit party leader Nigel Farage said it was clear Johnson “wanted to reheat her dreadful deal”.
Scotland ‘deserves better’
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Taking a step back from the seemingly endless Westminster mess, Scotland deserves better than this. We didn’t vote for any of it, and Brexit or not, we should not be subject to the whim of chaotic and dangerous Tory governments.”
Yesterday we saw plenty of drama, starting with Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown being asked to leave the conference after an altercation with staff.
Johnson also suffered a mishap when an aide snatched a coffee from him – on International Coffee Day, too. Our thoughts are with the PM.
Tory conference 2019: Sajid Javid on the economy
Meanwhile Treasury secretary Sajid Javid turned on the spending taps, announcing £17bn in funding in the case of a no-deal Brexit. He also set aside £5bn to roll out broadband across the country.
Javid pledged to hike the National Living Wage to £10.50 per hour over the next five years.
The chancellor also confirmed there will be a budget later this year.
It is widely expected to take place before a general election as Johnson’s government seeks to secure a majority in parliament.
Boris Johnson’s ‘clear vision’ for the Tories
Conservative Kwasi Kwarteng praised the Prime Minister’s “clarity of message” for the Tories’ poll bounce under his leadership.
He told City PM that Johnson has been clear on his Brexit strategy, while May’s government suffered communication problems – particularly with the public.