Tensions rise in PM language row

BORIS Johnson has called for tempers to cool following the furious scenes in the Commons when he was accused of stoking violence around Brexit.

The Prime Minister refused to apologise for describing attempts to block a no-deal break with the EU as the “surrender act”.

But he acknowledged that he would have to be able to “reach out” to opposition MPs if he was to secure their support for any new deal he negotiated with the EU.

“I need to reach out across the House of Commons,” he told the BBC.

“I think it is fair enough to call the ‘surrender act’ what it is. I think it is absolutely reasonable. But we do need to bring people together, and get this thing done.”

Mr Johnson faced a furious backlash after he dismissed a complaint by one Labour MP that his “inflammatory” rhetoric risked provoking attacks on parliamentarians as “humbug”.

He further angered the opposition by suggesting that the best way to honour murdered MP Jo Cox – an ardent Remainer – was to “get Brexit done”.

Opposition party leaders meeting at Westminster agreed Mr Johnson’s language in the Commons chamber on Wednesday was “unacceptable” and reaffirmed their determination to prevent a no-deal “crash out” on October 31.

The febrile atmosphere at Westminster was underlined when Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson left the opposition talks early so that she could talk to the police about a threat made to one of her children.

Labour MP Jess Phillips disclosed that a man had been arrested while trying to smash the windows and kick the door of her Birmingham Yardley constituency office.

While she said she would not “leap to blame” Mr Johnson for the incident she accused him of pursuing a “specific strategy” to provoke hatred.