ZCZC
BFF-03
BRITAIN-EU-BREXIT-POLITICS
UK PM to set out domestic agenda amid election talk
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, July 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – New British Prime
Minister Boris Johnson will set out his domestic agenda in a speech in
Manchester on Saturday, after trying to dampen speculation he could call an
early election.
Johnson will focus on health, education and infrastructure, after EU
leaders rebuffed his calls to renegotiate the Brexit deal struck by his
predecessor Theresa May last year.
The former mayor of London, who only took charge on Wednesday, has promised
to take Britain out of the EU by the latest deadline of October 31 — deal or
no deal.
But he has focused on domestic priorities in his first few days in office,
including a pledge on Friday to reverse drastic cuts to the police force made
under May.
Commentators have speculated that he could be preparing to call a general
election, hoping to regain the Conservative majority that May lost at the
polls in 2017.
Johnson on Friday “absolutely” ruled out initiating such a poll before
Britain leaves the bloc.
“The British people voted in 2015, in 2016, in 2017,” he said during a
visit to the central English city of Birmingham.
“What they want us to do is deliver on their mandate, come out of the EU on
October 31.
“They don’t want another electoral event, they don’t want a referendum,
they don’t want a general election.”
However, Britons could be headed to the polls if MPs bring down Johnson’s
new government in a no confidence vote in order to try and prevent a no-deal
Brexit from happening.
Britain voted 52 percent in favour of leaving the European Union in a shock
2016 referendum that partially reflected deep resentment over economic
inequality.
Johnson on Saturday will “set out his vision to rebalance power, growth and
productivity across the UK,” according to remarks released by Downing Street
before the speech.
May also come to power promising to fight Britain’s “burning injustices”
but her domestic agenda was overwhelmed by Brexit negotiations and her failed
attempts to persuade parliament to vote in favour of her exit deal.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0818 hr