Boris Johnson 'regrets' loss of 21 Tory rebels who voted to block no-deal Brexit and hints he could welcome some back

  • PM praised Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames as 'a great man'
  • Also hinted he could compromise over giving DUP 'veto' over future of Ulster
  • Read our live politics updates HERE
Boris Johnson has hinted at finding a way back for the Tory no-deal rebels
AP
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Boris Johnson today said he “regrets” the loss to the Conservatives of the 21 rebels who voted to prevent a no-deal Brexit — and dropped a hint that some may be invited back into the fold.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, the Prime Minister praised Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of wartime leader Winston Churchill, as “a friend” and “a great man” and suggested that a rapprochement was possible.

“Well, I don’t want to say anything to undermine the Chief Whip, but I do regret very much the decision that they took and I regret what happened, of course I do,” he said, adding: “But be in no doubt that the impact of the Surrender Act was intended to make our negotiations more difficult.”

Of Sir Nicholas, he said: “He’s a friend and he’s a great man and I think that he would acknowledge that we are pursuing a dynamic One Nation agenda.”

The Prime Minister also expressed sympathy with the aims of protest group Extinction Rebellion, saying they are “right to rebel” against the damage being inflicted on life on Earth by climate change . But he accused the group of creating more pollution through their campaign of disruption and blockades.

Boris Johnson during a visit to Watford General Hospital 
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

“I deplore their tactics, but I basically think that they are right to rebel against the extinctions that are taking place,” he said. “Since 1970 the world has lost 59 per cent of the mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. That’s in my lifetime. The same is true of the UK, an absolutely catastrophic loss of species, habitats. We must, must, must arrest this disaster.”

The comments contrasted with a speech he made last night labelling the protesters as “nose-ringed ... hemp-smelling .... crusties”.

Mr Johnson, whose partner Carrie Symonds is a conservationist, promised to put “biodiversity at the heart” of an upcoming climate summit in Glasgow, with “measurable targets” being set for saving species.

Pointing out there are “more members of the House of Lords than there are Siberian tigers”, he joked: “Some members of the House of Lords arguably could be fed to the Siberian tigers to redress the balance.”

Mr Johnson's partner Carrie Symonds is a conservationist
Getty Images

He went on: “It’s an absolute tragedy. So, you know, I understand the wells of emotion that are driving Extinction Rebellion, and in a way I approve of them, I really do. As far as they are disrupting traffic and causing people to sit idling in their cars, they’re obviously producing the opposite of what they claim to want. In so far as they are causing more pollution and more congestion, that’s not useful.”

The Prime Minister sat down to answer questions during a visit to Watford General Hospital where he announced extra funding and chatted with patients and staff. The hospital tour is all part of his campaign to persuade voters the Government has ambitions beyond Brexit. “This is a One Nation agenda,” he declared.

Asked about the seeming breakdown of his Brexit deal, Mr Johnson became quietly serious, abandoning the verbal brio of his Manchester conference speech for a cautious recitation of safe phrases.

“We haven’t yet seen evidence from them that they are they are fully engaging with our proposal,” he said of EU leaders, urging them to sit down and discuss their concerns.

Nicholas Soames, Winston Churchill's grandson, was among the Tory rebels who have all had the whip withdrawn
REUTERS

In one key area he appeared willing to compromise, following criticism he was giving his DUP allies a “veto” over Northern Ireland’s future. “I don’t want any community in Northern Ireland to be in a position where they can stop things going ahead,” he said.

Pressed on how other communities could be protected in a consent process, he insisted he would only get into the details if the 27 engage in talks. “If they have concerns, let’s get into a proper discussion and work out a way forward.”

On the other big concern cited by EU leaders, that removing Northern Ireland from the EU customs union would lead inevitably to border infrastructure in Ireland, he said: “We don’t think that’s true at all.”

He denied he was trapped by the Benn Act, requiring him to seek an extension of Article 50 if he does not get an agreement this month.

But asked how he could avoid being forced to send a letter requesting a delay, he repeated seeming contradictory statements “we will obey the law” and “we’re going to leave on October 31”.

He had even less to say of his relationship with Jennifer Arcuri, the US businesswoman who yesterday denied getting favours from the former mayor .

Mr Johnson, who said he did not watch her TV interview, growled: “I’ve said everything on that matter that I think I am going to say.”

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