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Agence France-Presse

New Prime Minister Boris Johnson sacked most of Britain’s cabinet on Wednesday as he took office vowing to secure a new divorce deal with the European Union – or leave without one by October 31.
The former London mayor has pledged to break the political deadlock that has left Britain in crisis and forced his predecessor Theresa May to delay Brexit twice.
But Johnson faces opposition from within his own Conservative party and across parliament to his threat of a “no deal” exit, while EU leaders warn they will not renegotiate the divorce agreement they struck with May.
Within hours of taking office, Johnson signalled his new approach by dismissing around a dozen ministers, while several others announced their resignations.
“We are going to fulfil the repeated promises of parliament to the people and come out of the EU on October 31, no ifs or buts,” he declared outside Downing Street.

Watched on by his 31-year-old girlfriend Carrie Symonds, the 55-year-old Johnson said “the doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters are going to get it wrong again”.
But he added that Britain would “prepare for the remote possibility that Brussels refuses any further to negotiate and we are forced to come out with no-deal”.
Johnson’s supporters hail his wit and optimism, and say his unconventional approach can rescue Britain from its current limbo.
But he has only a wafer-thin working majority in parliament, and is a divisive figure among the wider public.
As a figurehead of the 2016 EU referendum, he was criticised for populist rhetoric and exaggerated claims.
Rivals now accuse him of having no real plan for Brexit, and of underestimating the implications of a disorderly divorce.




European Council President Donald Tusk was quick to congratulate Johnson, but added pointedly: “I look forward to meeting you to discuss – in detail – our cooperation.”
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose country would be hard hit by a “no deal” Brexit, was more blunt.
“Any suggestion that there can be a whole new deal and negotiated in weeks or months is totally not in the real world,” he said.
Johnson was chosen on Tuesday to be leader of the governing Conservative party by its members, and was confirmed prime minister in a meeting Wednesday with Queen Elizabeth.
His ascent is the culmination of a lifelong ambition for a politician who, with his jokes and absurd anecdotes, has enjoyed celebrity status in Britain for decades.
New British PM’s Brexit focus could boost China trade ties, observers say
But his election with fewer than 100,000 votes from Conservative party members leaves him vulnerable to charges that he has no mandate to govern.
A YouGov survey Wednesday found his approval rating was just 31 per cent among the public, and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn challenged him to call an election.
Johnson has indicated he does not want a vote before he can deliver Brexit.
His first cabinet appointment was Sajid Javid, a son of Pakistani immigrants who has been moved from the interior ministry to become finance minister.

He replaces Philip Hammond, who quit hours earlier after repeatedly condemning Johnson’s “no deal” threats and warning of the dire economic consequences if they are enacted.
He is one of several Conservative MPs who say they could bring down the government to stop Britain crashing out of the European Union.
Brexit hardliner Dominic Raab, who like Johnson quit May’s government over her strategy, was named foreign minister to replace Jeremy Hunt.
The forceful Raab – a black belt in karate and a hardline Brexit supporter – will be plunged straight into a diplomatic stand-off with Iran, less than a week after Tehran seized a UK-flagged tanker in the Persian Gulf.
Priti Patel, another fierce Brexiteer who had to resign from the government in 2017 after holding unofficial meetings with top Israeli officials during a holiday there, was named interior minister.

The new Johnson government will also seek to repair ties with Washington, after a rift caused by the leak of diplomatic cables criticising the White House.
President Donald Trump was one of the first to congratulate Johnson on his victory saying he would be “great” and describing him as “Britain Trump”.
US president hails Johnson as ‘Britain Trump’ ... but will the bromance last?
Johnson had already named as a top adviser Dominic Cummings, a combative character who helped lead the victorious “Vote Leave” campaign in 2016.
In a short speech before tendering her resignation to the queen earlier, May wished Johnson “every good fortune”.
A heckler shouted “Stop Brexit” as she stood with her husband Philip by her side, to which she retorted: “I think not.”
Johnson’s appointment was also disrupted by climate-change protesters, who briefly stopped his convoy heading to Buckingham Palace for his meeting with the queen.


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Boris Johnson

British PM Boris Johnson brings in new team for Brexit challenge, sacking majority of previous cabinet

Britain’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (centre) arrives at the Foreign and Commonwealth buiding in London. Photo: AFP

Dominic Raab, U.K. foreign secretary, departs from number 10 Downing Street in London, U.K., on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Boris Johnson became prime minister Wednesday afternoon, and is preparing to announce his top ministerial team to deliver the U.K.'s exit from the European Union. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

Britain's newly elected Education Secretary Gavin Williamson leaves 10 Downing Street in London on July 24, 2019. - Boris Johnson took charge as Britain's prime minister on Wednesday, on a mission to deliver Brexit by October 31 with or without a deal. (Photo by Isabel Infantes / AFP)

Britain's new Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid leaves 10 Downing Street in London on July 24, 2019. - Boris Johnson took charge as Britain's prime minister on Wednesday, on a mission to deliver Brexit by October 31 with or without a deal. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP)

Boris Johnson’s Brexit focus could boost China trade ties as he takes over role of British prime minister, observers say

New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson enters 10 Downing Street after his appointment by Queen Elizabeth. Johnson said Britain was “enthusiastic” about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: EPA-EFE

Conservative party politician Dominic Raab arrives at 10 Downing Street in London on July 24, 2019. - Boris Johnson took over as Britain's new prime minister on Wednesday vowing to prove the "gloomsters" wrong and get a new deal to leave the European Union on October 31 -- or exit without one. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP)

New British PM Boris Johnson slams ‘doomsters’, vows to lead UK out of the EU – ‘no ifs, ands or buts’

Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street. Photo: AFP

Britain's outgoing prime minister Theresa May, (L), accompanied by her husband Philip, gestures after making a speech outside 10 Downing street in London on July 24, 2019 before formally tendering her resignation at Buckingham Palace. - Theresa May is set to formally resign on July 24 after taking her final PMQs in the House of Commons with Boris Johnson taking charge at 10 Downing Street on a mission to deliver Brexit by October 31 with or without a deal. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

Queen Elizabeth welcomes Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham Palace. Photo: Reuters

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Appointments include Sajid Javid as finance minister and controversial hardliner Priti Patel as interior minister


Appointments include Sajid Javid as finance minister and controversial hardliner Priti Patel as interior minister.


British PM Boris Johnson brings in new team for Brexit challenge, sacking majority of previous cabinet

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Appointments include Sajid Javid as finance minister and controversial hardliner Priti Patel as interior minister

Appointments include Sajid Javid as finance minister and controversial hardliner Priti Patel as interior minister