DON'T CHICKEN OUT
Boris Johnson says Brussels will be to blame if it forces Britain into No Deal Brexit by refusing to compromise on ‘dead’ deal
BRUSSELS will be to blame if it forces Britain into a No Deal Brexit by refusing to compromise on May's "dead" deal, Boris Johnson has warned today.
The PM gave some chickens a cuddle in Wales this afternoon as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK and vowed to "always back Britain's great farmers" no matter what.
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But Boris warned that if the EU don't budge on getting rid of the hated Northern Ireland backstop, it will be their choice to push Britain out of the bloc without an agreement at the end of October.
He said this afternoon: "We are not aiming for a No Deal Brexit.
"This is very much up to our friends and partners across the Channel.
"They know that three times the House of Commons has thrown out the backstop - they know there's no way to get it through."
And on whether Britain would leave without a deal or not he said: "This is up to the EU, this is their call if they want us to do this."
But if Brussels understands that Britain won't pass the deal as it is then "we're going to be at the races", Boris added.
The visit to a chicken farm had Brits in stitches today just hours after the news that one of his top advisers once dressed up like one in an old job to poke fun at Tories.
As Boris continued his whistle-stop tour of Britain today:
- He had a clash with Irish PM Leo Varadkar on the phone ahead of a trip to Northern Ireland tomorrow
- And he begged Brexit Party voters to back the Tories in Thursday's crunch by-election in Brecon
- New Trade Secretary Liz Truss vowed to prioritise a deal with America as she fast-tracks talks
- It was confirmed Boris has appointed himself as minister for the civil service and the union
- The pound took another tumble as fears of a No Deal Brexit grew
- And Boris' girlfriend Carrie has spoken with Samantha Cameron for tips about life at No10
The farming industry is worth £6billion to the Welsh economy and supports 14,000 businesses.
Boris said today that if Britain had to leave with a No Deal that the Government would intervene with more cash to help farmers cope.
"We will make sure they have the support they need," he vowed.
"We will help them to find new markets, we will have interventions to support them and their incomes."
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said that Welsh sheep can now be traded in Japan, which will be a huge boost for local farmers.
“That is a new market for us, so exports are already taking place there," he said earlier.
“That is a significant market for which we haven’t even scratched the surface yet.”
IRELAND CALLING
Boris spoke earlier to the Irish PM for the first time, and made it clear we will be leaving on October 31 "no matter what".
No10 said after the call: "The Prime Minister made clear that the government will approach any negotiations which take place with determination and energy and in a spirit of friendship, and that his clear preference is to leave the EU with a deal, but it must be one that abolishes the backstop.";
But farmers have warned that a No Deal Brexit - if it happens - could spark "civil unrest" and protests.
Helen Roberts, a sheep farmer for the National Sheep Association in Wales, told Radio 4 earlier that Boris should "stop playing Russian roulette with the industry".
She added: "No Deal will be catastrophic for the industry, even if it's only for a few months."
When asked about the possibility of taking the right to the streets, she said: "I think they will, it's time to stand up for themselves and be counted.
"I suspect there will be protests."
SLAUGHTERING SHEEP?
Farmers have also warned they could have to slaughter millions of sheep if there's a No Deal - because huge 40 per cent tariffs on leaving on WTO terms could drive them out of business.
Boris reportedly has said he wants the PR campaign getting ready for Brexit to use a Maggie-Thatcher style 'Open for Business' slogan like in 1988.
£100million is set to be spent on his upcoming media blitz, with huge push on the benefits that leaving the EU will bring.
Boris also visited the Brecon and Radnorshire seat the Tories are trying to hold onto in a by-election on Thursday.
It was sparked by the former MP Chris Davies, who was found guilty of fiddling his office expenses, but the party have chosen to let him stand again.
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Tories overtake Labour in Wales as Boris Johnson wins party support
BORIS Johnson's poll bounce has spread to Wales as the Tories have leapfrogged Labour in a shock poll.
As the new PM rolls in today for his first visit, the Conservatives are now ahead of Labour on 24 per cent.
The party are up seven points since Theresa May announced she would quit as party leader back in May.
It’s the Tories' highest rating in Wales since the start of the 2017 General Election.
And experts said it would be enough for the Tories to take eight seats off Labour in the next Election.
Labour would pick up a minority of Welsh seats for the first time since 1918.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Yesterday Boris used his first trip to Scotland to promise £300million of extra funding for the regions.
But he was booed when he met Nicola Sturgeon and slapped down her calls for a second independence referendum.
He said again that the chance of a No Deal Brexit was a million to one, but his top team have been playing up the chances.
Dominic Raab said the balance was "shifting" towards it and Michael Gove said the Government were working on the "assumption" that the EU won't back down.
Boris wants to ditch the hated Northern Ireland border and re-do Theresa May's deal, but has promised to get Britain out on October 31 if he can't.
Boris Johnson pledges £3.6billion cash boost to revitalise up to 100 run-down towns and cities
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