brexit beef
Boris admits sacking 21 Tory MPs ‘grieved him deeply’ and plans to ‘build bridges’ with Brexit rebels as he ends week from hell
BORIS Johnson has admitted sacking 21 Tory MPs “grieved me deeply” as he plans to “build bridges" with the Brexit rebels.
The PM described the group as his “friends” days after he gave them the chop for defying him and voting for No Deal.
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Boris has been blasted – on both sides of the house – for giving the MPs their marching orders.
Senior Tories have even suggested he ditches close aide Dominic Cummings who many blame for his cut-throat stance on the Rebels.
BUILDING BRIDGES
However, the PM showed signs of softening today and spoke of reaching out to the MPs in an effort to rebuild ties.
On the election trail in Scotland, he told Sky News: “I want to be very clear, it grieves me deeply. These are friends of mine and I’ve worked with them for many years.
“But we have to get Brexit done and we were being very clear about the risks we are running now in snarling up the process of leaving the EU, in parliament.
“Of course I’m going to reach out to those colleagues and try and find ways of building bridges.
Of course I’m going to reach out to those colleagues and try and find ways of building bridges.
Boris Johnson
“But I’m going to be clear we have to get Brexit done.
“That’s my message to my colleagues lets come together and get this over the line and unite the country.
“And get on and defeat labour opposition when they finally get the guts to have an election.”
JO-GO
Today’s attitude shift from Boris comes just a day after the fallout from his rebel cull saw his younger brother Jo Johnson quit as a Tory MP - citing “unresolvable tensions” over the PM’s Brexit policy.
The former Orpington MP, who had served his Boris’ cabinet, suggested his older brother was not acting “in the national interest”.
It followed a tense phone call between the close-knit pair on Wednesday night, in which Boris pleaded with Jo to reconsider.
In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest - it’s an unresolvable tension and time for others to take on my roles as an MP and Minister.
Jo Johnson
But Jo told the PM yesterday morning he had not changed his mind in a text message before making his decision public with a tweet that revealed he was also quitting politics altogether.
Announcing the news in a bombshell tweet yesterday morning, Jo said: “It’s been an honour to represent Orpington for nine years and to serve as a minister under three PMs.
“In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest - it’s an unresolvable tension and time for others to take on my roles as an MP and Minister”.
Refusing to make any criticism of him, Boris heaped praise on his brother to dub him “a fantastic guy and a brilliant minister”.
He added: “Jo does not agree with me about the European Union because it’s an issue that obviously divides families, and divides everybody.
“We certainly haven’t seen eye to eye for a long time about UK and the EU but on a huge domestic agenda I think he’s done a fantastic job.
“I am very sad to see the loss of Jo, and of people have the lost the whip in the last few days.”
Jo was the 23rd Tory MP to either quit or be sacked in two days - after Boris' rebel purge and Philip Lee defecting to the Lib Dems.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
The younger Johnson was also Boris' first major ministerial resignation since he became PM in what has been a galling 48 hours in the Commons.
But today another ex-cabinet minister announced she would be quitting as an MP - plunging Bo-Jo's election plans into further chaos.
Claire Perry became the latest to send Tory Election planning into turmoil by saying she will not contest her Devizes constituency –a plumb Lib Dem target – in any upcoming snap poll.
Former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and London Minister Nick Hurd on Thursday announced they wouldn’t stand in the Election.
And sources claimed “loads more” Tories will announce they plan to step down rather than fight any national poll – sparking fears on an exodus.
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