Articles by "Boris Johnson"
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Hello Jammu News at 10:38:00 PM 0
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson


London, Feb 3 :  The word Brexit is "over" and is receding behind us into history, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday in his first major speech since the UK formally left the European Union after 47 years of membership following the vote in favour of the divorce deal in June 2016.

The UK formally left the EU on January 31 and is now in a pre-agreed period of transition during which it is free to open up trade talks with countries around the world.

In a triumphant vision statement for the UK to become a campaigner and catalyst for free trade around the world, Johnson said Britain's exit from the 27-member economic bloc meant that it will not be accepting all its rules as it opens up negotiations with countries around the world.

"It's not banned. It's just over... it's gone. I wouldn't say it's like the Big Bang or the Norman Conquest. It's just that it's receding into history behind us," said Johnson, when asked why he had not referred to the word "Brexit" even once during the course of the speech during at the historic Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, reflective of Britain's trading history across its many colonies during the Empire.

"I won't even mention the name of the controversy except to say that it begins with B. Receding in the past behind us. We have the opportunity, we have the newly recaptured powers, we know where we want to go, and that is out into the world," he said.

The central theme of his address was to highlight the UK government's approach to the upcoming negotiations with the EU during the transition period triggered on Friday night and running until the end of December.

Johnson's tough-talking message was that the UK would be seeking a "pragmatic" agreement with the EU along the lines of Canada but that it was also prepared for looser ties akin to Australia if it meant complete alignment with the EU rules and laws.

"The reason we do not seek membership or part membership of the Customs Union or alignment of any kind, is at least partly that I want this country to be an independent actor and catalyst for free trade across the world," he said.

Johnson made specific references to the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan as being on top of the list of countries that the UK would be initiating immediate talks for new trading arrangements.

India was not named in this initial list but he stressed that the UK's Department for International Trade was ready to begin talks simultaneously around the world.

"We are ready for the great multi-dimensional game of chess in which we engage in more than one negotiation at once and we are limbering up to use nerves and muscles and instincts that this country has not had to use for half a century," he said.

In a corresponding speech in Brussels, Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, said the EU was ready to offer a "highly ambitious trade deal as the central pillar of this partnership" but it would be dependent on the UK agreeing to "specific and effective guarantees to ensure a level playing field" to ensure competition "remains open and fair".

Trade talks between the UK and the EU are due to formally begin in March, with any agreement required to be cleared by all 27 members of the economic bloc.

Johnson had hailed the historic Brexit moment as the dawn of a new era for the UK in his address to the nation just before Brexit.
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Hello Jammu News at 8:09:00 PM 0
General Public Of UK


London, Feb 1 :  The UK's divorce from the European Union (EU) came into force on Friday night as it became the first country to exit the economic bloc after 47 years of membership following the vote in favour of Brexit in June 2016.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the historic moment as the dawn of a new era for the UK in his address to the nation just before Brexit.

Brexit came into force at 11:00 pm (2300 GMT).

"This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act in our great national drama," said Johnson, in his video message which promised hope and opportunity to every part of the United Kingdom.

"It is not just about some legal extrication. It is potentially a moment of real national renewal and change. This is the dawn of a new era in which we no longer accept that your life chances -- your family's life chances -- should depend on which part of the country you grow up in," he said.

While there will be little change instantly as the UK and EU enter into a pre-agreed period of transition from Saturday until the end of December, the process of complete extrication from the now 27-member economic bloc will begin right away.

Johnson was keen to highlight his vision of a friendly negotiation process for both sides to thrash out a new trading relationship as the beginning of a "new era of friendly cooperation" between the EU and an energetic Britain.

Celebrating the UK's "recaptured sovereignty" to deliver the changes the June 2016 referendum vote signified, he noted, "Whether that is by controlling immigration or creating freeports or liberating our fishing industry or doing free trade deals...is the right and healthy and democratic thing to do."

On a critical note on the EU's evolution over the period of the UK's membership, he added, "Because for all its strengths and for all its admirable qualities, the EU has evolved over 50 years in a direction that no longer suits this country."

"And that is a judgment that you, the people, have now confirmed at the polls.

The Conservative Party leader took charge at Downing Street last year with a "no ifs, no buts" pledge to leave the EU. His General Election campaign pegged around the Get Brexit Done message last December won him a thumping majority, after which Britain's exit from the bloc also became a certainty as his Brexit bill easily crossed the parliamentary hurdle.

Acknowledging the long-drawn divorce process and the deep Remain versus Brexit divide within the UK, Johnson said, "Tonight we are leaving the European Union. For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come and there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss.

"I understand all those feelings, and our job as the government my job is to bring this country together now and take us forward.

As part of that forward-looking agenda, the government will kick off its GREAT Ready to Trade campaign across 13 countries, including India, from Saturday. Johnson has repeatedly committed himself to a new and improved trading relationship with India and now as a non-member of the EU, the UK is free to push ahead with those talks unrestricted by the economic bloc's rules.
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Hello Jammu News at 8:16:00 PM 0
US President Donald Trump & UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson


London, Jan 25 :  Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed telecoms security with US President Donald Trump as he prepares to announce if Britain will use China's Huawei in its 5G networks, officials said Saturday.

In a phone call on Friday evening, the two leaders "discussed a range of issues, including cooperation to ensure the security of our telecommunications networks", a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

A White House statement also confirmed they discussed "working together to ensure the security of our telecommunications networks".

The United States has banned Huawei from the rollout of its next generation 5G mobile networks because of concerns -- strongly denied -- that the firm could be under the control of Beijing.

Washington has been lobbying London to do the same, but there is speculation that it will grant the firm some kind of limited access.

Huawei is already well established in British 3G and 4G networks, and officials have warned that banning it would be hugely costly and delay the rollout of 5G technology.

Intelligence agencies also believe that they can contain any potential risk, although Johnson will have to make the final decision, expected next week.

In his call with Trump, the prime minister also raised the "need to secure justice" for the family of Harry Dunn, Downing Street said.

The British teenager died in August when his motorbike was hit by a car being driven by Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US diplomat.

British authorities have charged Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving, but the US refuses to extradite her.

Johnson "reiterated the need for the individual involved to return to the UK", the spokeswoman said.
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Hello Jammu News at 5:48:00 PM 0
London, Jun 23 : Leading Brexit supporters are talking tough, and opponents are taking to the streets, on the second anniversary of Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
Today marks two years since a June 23, 2016 referendum resulted in a decision to quit the 28-nation EU. Britain is due to leave the bloc on March 29, 2019, but its government remains divided about what kind of economic relationship it wants with the EU after Brexit.

Pro-Brexit Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urged Prime Minister Theresa May to deliver a "full British Brexit," rather than one he compared to toilet paper "soft, yielding and seemingly infinitely long." 

Meanwhile, thousands of opponents of Brexit are due to rally outside Parliament, calling for a referendum on any final divorce deal between Britain and the EU.   AP
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Hello Jammu News at 4:17:00 PM 0
London, May 14 :  British health secretary Jeremy Hunt has told BBC Radio 4's Today he thought "it's important that we have these debates in private" over Brexit.
The UK government is currently deciding which form of future trade relations it wants with the EU before the detailed negotiations take place in Brussels.
The foreign secretary Boris Johnson called one of the two options - a customs partnership - "crazy", in a newspaper interview.
Mr Hunt told Today: "I do think that it is important that we have these debates in private. Not just because of collective responsibility, which is what democracy depends on, but also because this is a negotiation. On the EU side, if they see divisions in the open, they will exploit that.
"I actually think he has a very important role to play in the Government and he is the architect of the whole Brexit campaign and we are listening to what he says and we are doing what he wants.
"But I think we have to recognise that we are not the only people who read the papers in Britain - they are read across the world - and we need to give Theresa May some space.
"If we are going to have these lively debates, we should have them in private because that will strengthen Theresa May's negotiating hand."
Asked if his message would be "Boris belt up", Mr Hunt replied: "You could say that - I would say he's a marvellous foreign secretary but let's work as a team."
A 'highly streamlined' customs arrangement - This would minimise customs checks rather than getting rid of them altogether, using new technologies and things like trusted trader schemes, which could allow companies to pay duties in bulk every few months rather than every time their goods crossed a border
A customs partnership - This would remove the need for new customs checks at the border. The UK would collect tariffs set by the EU customs union on goods coming into the UK. If those goods didn't leave the UK and UK tariffs on them were lower, companies could then claim back the difference.
Meanwhile, as debate continues over which type of trade deal the UK wants with the EU post-Brexit, Theresa May is holding three meetings with large groups of Conservative MPs in Downing Street.
Assistant political editor Norman Smith described it as a "factual" presentation of the customs option rather than making the case for one particular option.
The UK is committed to leaving the current customs union when it exits the EU on 29 March 2019 and ministers are under pressure to agree soon on a successor arrangement amid divisions in cabinet.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Mrs May promised a solution which ensured frictionless trade, enabled the UK to strike trade deals around the world and which did not result in a hard border on the island of Ireland.
"You can trust me to deliver," she wrote. "I will not let you down".
Environment Secretary Michael Gove, one of the leading Brexiteers in the cabinet, told the Andrew Marr Show that he trusted the PM to reach an agreement but he expressed doubts about what is believed to be her preferred option.
The leading Leave campaigner is one of a group of cabinet ministers asked by the PM to stress-test the customs partnership model - which would see the UK collect tariffs set by the EU on goods coming into the UK.
"Because it is novel, because no model like this exists, there have to be significant question marks over the deliverability of it on time," he said.
"More than that, what it requires the British government to do is, in effect, act as the tax collector... for the European Union... It is my view that the new customs partnership has flaws and that they need to be tested."
UNI
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