‘Awesome Foursome’: Boris Johnson talks up ‘the union’ in first speech as UK Prime Minister

Boris Johnson made his first speech as UK PM, in which he promoted the four British nations exiting the EU as the “awesome foursome,” insisting the UK is more than the sum of its parts and that it is loved throughout the world.

In what ostensibly was a rallying cry for Brexiteers who have been left frustrated by the fact the UK has failed to leave the EU, Johnson looked to assure them. He insisted that he’ll “crack” the “new better [Brexit] deal” before October 31 - “no ifs no buts.”

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In a direct reference to the contentious Northern Ireland ‘backstop,’ which has proved to be the main stumbling block to any Brexit deal being approved by British MPs, Johnson quipped: “Never mind backstop, the buck stops here.” He has promised to remove the backstop, which will doubtlessly raise a few eyebrows in Brussels, where EU lawmakers have been adamant that it stays as part of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

Johnson won the Tory leadership contest against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, gaining 66.4 percent of the vote to 33.6 percent. Later on Wednesday he will embark on assigning ministerial positions to his cabinet.

On Wednesday, Johnson traveled to Buckingham Palace where he was invited by the Queen to form a new government after the outgoing PM, Theresa May, formally handed in her resignation to the monarch.

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