New UK PM Boris Johnson vows for better Brexit deal

By Muhammad Mussa

LONDON (AA) - Britain's new Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared the country would leave the EU on Oct. 31, even without a deal, if negotiations fail to reach any conclusion.

Johnson, who was elected prime minister by the Conservative Party members on Tuesday, met Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday afternoon, who invited him to formally ask to form a new government.

She earlier accepted Theresa May’s resignation as prime minister.

“I have just seen Her Majesty the Queen, who has invited me to form a government and I have accepted,” Johnson said in his maiden speech, as prime minister at the 10 Downing Street.

“I pay tribute to the fortitude and patience of my predecessor and her deep sense of public service, but in spite of all her efforts, it has become clear that there are pessimists at home and abroad, who think after three years of indecision, that this country has become a prisoner to the old arguments of 2016” Johnson added.

He pledged to leave the EU on October 31, saying that British democracy is incapable of dishonoring a democratic mandate. He also said that the enemies of Britain will lose and the doubters will be proven wrong.

“We are going to fulfil the repeated promises to the people and come out of the EU on October 31st. We will do a new deal, a better deal that will maximize the opportunities of Brexit, while allowing us to develop a new and exciting partnership with the rest of Europe,” he said.

He added that the new partnership with the bloc will be based on free trade and mutual support.

Assuring that he will lead the country to come out of the EU as soon as possible, the new prime minister said the people waited enough, while referring to the 2016 referendum.

According to Johnson, Brexit was a fundamental decision by the British people who wanted to make their own laws and elect their own representatives.

He also assured 3.2 million EU nationals living in the U.K. that their rights will be safeguarded, hailing their contribution to the British society.

Johnson also assured the EU, especially the neighboring Ireland that they will reach a new deal that may include giving up the need of checks and customs on the Irish border. He said preparations must be made for enacting a deal. But he also warned if, the EU headquarters at Brussels refuses to negotiate, the U.K. will be forced to leave without a deal.

Johnson also pledged to increase spending on police recruitment, building new hospitals, education and the health services. He also promised to fix the social crises that has plagued the U.K. for many years. He said the four nations -- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – that make up the U.K. will be connected with all forms of networks, such as new and improved roads, fiber broadband in all homes and increased national wages.

Prior to Johnson’s meeting with the monarch, a group of Green Peace activists blocked his convoy while it was travelling to the Buckingham Palace, as the activists briefly formed a human chain before. They were dispersed by the police.

Johnson, was elected prime minister on Tuesday by the members of the Conservative Party. He received 92,153 votes. He is expected to form his new cabinet in the coming days and outline his national policies and priorities as well as a new Brexit agreement with the EU. He has repeatedly said he was in favor of leaving the EU as soon as possible and even without a deal.