Boris Johnson reiterated his promise to pull the United Kingdom out of the European Union while delivering his first speech as prime minister of the U.K.
Queen Elizabeth invited Johnson to form a government on Wednesday, signifying Johnson’s ascent to the office of prime minister. Afterward, Johnson appeared outside the British government’s headquarters on 10 Downing St. to give his first prepared remarks as Britain’s new head of government.
“We’re going to fulfill repeated promises of Parliament to the people, and come out of the EU on Oct. 31, no ifs or buts,” Johnson said. “We will do a new deal — a better deal — that will maximize the opportunities of Brexit while allowing to us to develop a new, exciting partnership with the rest of Europe based on free trade and mutual support.”
“Brexit was a fundamental decision by the British people that they wanted their laws made by people that they can elect and they can remove from office,” Johnson added. “We must now respect that decision and create a new partnership with our European friends, as warm, as close and as affectionate as possible.”
Johnson promised increased investment and reforms to policing, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He also pledged to let the roughly 3.2 million EU nationals living in the U.K. remain in the country.
Johnson is taking over the government from former Prime Minister Theresa May after she failed to negotiate a deal with Brussels to exit the European Union. May announced on May 24 she would resign as prime minister and let another conservative leader attempt to lead the U.K. through an orderly exit of the EU.
