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As it happenedended

Brexit - as it happened: Boris Johnson makes first speech since resigning over Theresa May's Chequers deal

Follow for all the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 18 July 2018 12:50 EDT
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Boris Johnson: 'We are volunteering for economic vassalage'

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Boris Johnson has claimed "it is not too late to save Brexit" in his first speech since resigning from government, where he tore into Theresa May's Chequers plan.

The ex-foreign secretary gave a resignation statement to MPs, where he claimed a "fog of self-doubt'' has fallen over Britain since the prime minister's Lancaster House speech and claimed her new plan would reduce the UK to "economic vassalage".

However Ms May was spared the pleasure of listening to his address, as she faced grilling by senior MPs on the Liaison Committee over her Brexit record.

Ms May also attempted to rally her deeply divided party at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers.

Earlier, Jeremy Corbyn attempted to exploit divisions in the Conservative ranks by claiming the party was “too busy fighting each other to negotiate” during prime minister's questions.

The Labour leader was also embroiled in a fresh antisemitism row after a veteran MP was heard berating him for being a "f****** antisemite and a racist".

His office has vowed to take action against Dame Margaret Hodge, for the comments, which came amid a furious internal row over the party's new code of conduct.

See below for live updates

Kristin Hugo18 July 2018 14:34

Adults who have "nothing to offer their communities" have "exploited and goaded" children into violence in Londonderry, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.

Karen Bradley hit out as she responded to an urgent question in the Commons, which pressed her to update MPs on recent violence in the region.

Ms Bradley highlighted "serious disorder" in Belfast and some surrounding areas of County Down on July 11 following a court order to remove a bonfire considered unsafe, along with "sporadic, isolated acts of violence" in the days since.

She also condemned "unrelated but serious disorder" in Derry last week, including petrol bombs and a shooting attack against police officers.

Ms Bradley told MPs: "As the chief constable informed me this morning, there have been so far 15 arrests in connection with the violence in Londonderry and 10 people have been charged."

She added: "In many cases it would appear that young people are being exploited and goaded into criminal activity by adults who have nothing to offer their communities."

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 14:42

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 14:48

Boris Johnson is up on his feet.

He praises the PM for their work together on 'global Britain' when he was foreign secretary.

He says the UK has 'dithered' over its Brexit strategy and attacks many aspects of her plan, including the decision to pay out for the divorce bill.

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 14:57

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 15:00

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 15:00

From 18 months of 'stealthy retreat' from Lancaster House, we have arrived at the Chequer plan, Johnson says.

Chequers makes us 'rule takers', he claims. Far from giving powers to UK ministers, it is giving powers to Brussels.

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 15:02

Johnson says the UK is 'volunteering for economic vassalage' in goods and agriculture, as well as other areas.

We have far less scope to do free trade deals, as the Chequers deal acknowledges, as we should all acknowledge, he says.

He warns against saying one thing to the public and one thing to the EU. He says he is happy to speak out now.

"It is not too late to save Brexit," he claims.

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 15:05

MPs show support for his words, even though they are supposed to sit in silence.

We cannot afford to make a mistake now and set the bone later, he claims.

Johnson says there is no majority in the house for a customs union. The UK has 2.5 years to make technical preparations for solving the Irish border question.

We should not and need not be stampeded by anyone, he says.

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 15:07

Lizzy Buchan18 July 2018 15:07

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