LONDON, Dec 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on
Britons to put years of bitter divisions over the country’s EU membership
behind them as he vowed to use his resounding election victory to finally
deliver Brexit next month.
Johnson’s ruling Conservatives won their best result for three decades on
Thursday night after promising to get Britain out of the European Union on
January 31, a new deadline set by Brussels.
The snap general election turned into a re-run of the original 2016 EU
membership referendum, whose outcome paralysed Britain’s leaders and created
divisions across society.
But in a victory speech in Downing Street on Friday, the former London
mayor struck a magnanimous tone, vowing to listen to those who opposed Brexit
and lead an inclusive government.
“I urge everyone to find closure and to let the healing begin,” he said
hours after visiting Queen Elizabeth II to be reappointed prime minister.
Johnson staked his political career on the election, which created the
possibility of the pro-EU opposition coming to power and calling a new Brexit
referendum that could undo the results of the first.
The gambit payed off spectacularly, with his Tories securing 365 seats in
the 650-seat House of Commons — their biggest majority since the 1980s
heyday of Margaret Thatcher.
It also devastated the main opposition Labour party, which suffered its
worst result since 1935.
Labour’s socialist leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would step down after a
period of “reflection” within the century-old party.
The anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats also had a dismal night, falling to just
11 seats and losing their leader, Jo Swinson.
– Honour the mandate –
London stocks and the British pound jumped on hopes of an end to years of
uncertainty, which has hurt investment and economic growth.
Johnson said his party had an “overwhelming mandate from this election to
get Brexit done”.
He promised to then focus on other public priorities, notably by increasing
investment in healthcare, schools and infrastructure.
“The work is now stepped up to make 2020 a year of prosperity and growth
and hope,” he concluded, to cheers from aides and activists outside Number
10.
Anti-Brexit campaign groups expressed dismay at the result, which spells
the end of attempts to keep Britain in the European Union, although many
voters welcomed a decisive result.
“At least it’s clear,” said lawyer Gordon Hockey in London. “It’s not
necessarily what I wanted but at least we know where we stand and Brexit will
happen in some form or other.”
– Trump cheers ‘great WIN’ –
Parliament will reconvene on Tuesday and Johnson is expected to publish
legislation before Christmas needed to ratify the Brexit deal he agreed with
Brussels in October.
This should be passed by January but Britain and the EU still need to
thrash out a new trade and security agreement — a process that officials
have warned could take years.
At an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, the bloc’s leaders expressed relief
at the clear result and said they would work for a swift trade deal.
But they warned that any new arrangement must uphold European values and
norms.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Britain would be an economic
“competitor at our door” after Brexit.
The result of Britain’s third election in almost five years signals a
personal victory for Johnson, who remains a polarising figure.
US President Donald Trump tweeted his congratulations on a “great WIN!” and
said London and Washington would be able to strike a “massive new trade
deal”.
He also told reporters on Friday that Johnson’s victory bodes well for his
own fortunes in next year’s US election.
“I want to congratulate Boris Johnson on a terrific victory. I think that
might be a harbinger of what’s to come in our country. It was last time,”
Trump said.
Johnson has promised new free-trade deals with the EU and the United
States, and after Thursday’s victory, now has the political capital at home
to press ahead.
The US State Department said Friday it was “committed” to reaching a
comprehensive trade deal with its historic ally “once it formally withdraws
from the European Union”.
– Labour collapse –
Labour’s support collapsed on Thursday, with the Tories taking many former
strongholds in northern England and Wales that voted to leave the EU.
The party lost 59 seats to end up with 203, after what Corbyn admitted had
been a “very disappointing night”.
Corbyn had promised a second referendum on Brexit in a bid to appeal to
half of British voters who still want to stay in the EU.
But he had focused Labour’s campaign on a radical programme of economic
change, including re-nationalising some key industries, which failed to woo
traditional voters.
Speaking early Friday, Corbyn defended his “manifesto of hope” and
maintained his policies were “extremely popular” during the campaign.
But Corbyn has been dogged by accusations of sympathising with proscribed
terror groups and failing to tackle anti-Semitism within the Labour party.
After Labour’s fourth successive electoral defeat — and the second under
Corbyn — the party’s ruling executive body will meet in January to consider
the next steps.
Dozens of protesters marched through London on Friday evening and two
arrests were made in relation to scuffles during the demonstration, police
said.
– Scotland eyes exit –
After winning 48 of 59 seats in Scotland, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon
stepped up the pressure for a new referendum on independence.
“The stunning election win from last night for the SNP renews, reinforces
and strengthens the mandate we have from previous elections to offer the
people of Scotland a choice over their future,” she said.
The first Scotland independence referendum failed in 2014, when 55 percent
voted in favour of preserving its membership in the United Kingdom.
But Scotland opposed Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union in the
2016
Sturgeon said Thursday’s outcome gave Johnson a mandate to take England out
of the European Union, but not Scotland.