Boris Johnson refuses to back down over Brexit 'surrender' claims
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that while abuse of MPs is "appalling", banning certain words would mean "impoverishing debate".
Friday 27 September 2019 16:14, UK
Boris Johnson has denied exploiting divisions with his language on Brexit and defended accusing opponents of "surrendering" British power.
The prime minister brushed aside criticism in the face of growing calls, including from more than 100 bishops, for politicians to tone down the rhetoric.
Despite the pleas, Mr Johnson defended branding a backbench bid to block a no-deal Brexit as the "surrender act".
The so-called Benn law forces the government to seek an extension to the current 31 October Brexit deadline unless a divorce deal is agreed by 19 October.
The prime minister said that while abuse of parliamentarians is "absolutely appalling", banning the use of words like surrender would mean "impoverishing debate".
Rejecting accusations he was trying to exploit divisions for political gain, Mr Johnson said: "No, on the contrary. What we need to do now is to get Brexit done by 31 October.
"I genuinely think that once you do that then so much of the heat and anxiety will come out of the debate."
Speaking during a visit to a hospital in Essex, Mr Johnson said: "I think there is too much abuse of parliamentarians, particularly female MPs.
"I think the threats... are absolutely appalling and we are doing a lot of work to give MPs the security that they need.
"But then there's another question, which is: 'Can you use words like surrender to describe a certain act?'
"Quite frankly, I think you can. If you say that you can't then you are kind of impoverishing the language and impoverishing political debate.
"After all, the use of that kind of metaphor has been going on for hundreds of years.
"If people don't like that metaphor then they shouldn't vote for that act, because what it does is it gives the power of this country to decide whether or not to stay in the EU beyond a certain date to the EU.
"It really makes it very difficult to get a deal. But we are not daunted and we are going to go on and get a deal if we possibly can."
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Denying the government would seek to bypass the Benn Act, Mr Johnson "We will obey the law, but we are confident we can come out on 31 October.
"That is why the surrender act is so damaging. It has had the effect with our European friends of making them think that maybe parliament can block this thing.
"If you are in a negotiation that obviously makes it more difficult."
Mr Johnson's comments came after his top aide Dominic Cummings said the anger of some voters was unsurprising and that MPs would stop getting threats and abuse if they "respect" the EU referendum result.
Meanwhile, former cabinet minister Amber Rudd has added to the criticism of Mr Johnson, arguing the language he used did incite violence.
Her intervention followed the PM dismissing as "humbug" a Labour MP's complaint that his "inflammatory" language risked provoking attacks
Ms Rudd, who also resigned the Tory whip in solidarity with the 21 Tories who were expelled from the parliamentary party for voting to stop no-deal Brexit, told the Evening Standard newspaper: "The sort of language I'm afraid we've seen more and more of coming out from Number 10 does incite violence.
"It's the sort of language people think legitimises a more aggressive approach and sometimes violence."
Fears raised by Sir John Major that Mr Johnson could look to circumvent the terms of the Benn Law by using Privy Council privilege have been branded "total cobblers", by a Downing Street source.
Elsewhere, the SNP confirmed it would support Labour leader Jeremy Corybn becoming interim prime minister should there be a vote of no confidence in the government in order to block no-deal.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "Nothing is risk-free but leaving Johnson in post to force through no-deal - or even a bad deal - seems like a terrible idea to me."
But the Liberal Democrats have said "the numbers don't add up" for Mr Corbyn to take over as prime minister.