UK’s Johnson rallies party to ‘get Brexit done’

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: After a bruising week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson entered the warm embrace of

conference on Sunday vowing to “get Brexit done.”

Despite a string of parliamentary setbacks and a defeat

insists he will take Britain out of the European Union (EU) next month, with or without a deal with Brussels.

“What we need to do is to move on. And the way to do that is to get Brexit done on

- vision in Manchester, northwest England, where the conference is taking place.

His tough stance has put him at odds with many of his own members of parliament ( MPs)

helped passed a law blocking a “no deal” exit — an outcome they fear would be hugely disruptive.

But the tough talk resonates with the pro-Brexit party members who elected him in July, and who held up signs on the con

it Done” slogan.

In what is likely to be the center- right party’s final gathering before a general election, several ministers took the stage on Sunday repeating that only

on the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU.

“While the difficulties caused by leaving without a deal will pass, the damage to our democracy in not getting Brexit done would endure and resound for much longer,” said Michael Gove, the minister for Brexit preparations.

But none of the ministers offered insight on how Johnson will overcome his main hurdle: getting a divorce deal with the EU in the next few weeks — the only legal way to keep to the October 31 deadline.

‘ Model of restraint’

Johnson has had a turbulent two ing his majority.

- tive MPs when they backed a law requiring him to ask EU leaders to delay Brexit if he cannot get a deal by a summit on October 17- 18.

his suspension of parliament unlawful, Johnson challenged opposition parties to bring down his government — but they spurned the chance.

In response, he has accused MPs of “surrendering” to the EU.

His rhetoric drew accusations of stoking division, but he insisted Sunday he had been a “model of restraint.”

Senior minister Jacob Rees-Mogg later won a standing ovation when he told conference: “Parliament is now holding the people in contempt.”

The four- day gathering risks being disrupted by parliamentary business in London.

Opposition MPs were furious at Johnson’s decision to sus

in -

early September — a move

Tuesday — and refused to agree to the normal conference recess.

Some are threatening maneuvers from Monday that could force ministers to race back to Westminster.

Polls, but protests

Main opposition Labour leader

an election but will do nothing to bring it about until a “no deal” Brexit is no longer possible.

But with parliament deadlocked, most commentators expect an election in the coming months — and there is evidence Johnson’s stance is winning votes.

Two surveys this week, by YouGov and Opinium, put the

ahead of Labor, fueled by the support of pro-Brexit voters.

The party also unveiled new health spending on Sunday, with further pre-election pledges expected over the coming days.