Johnson tells new Tory MPs they must ‘repay the public’s trust’

Boris Johnson welcomed his new Tory MPs to Westminster last night, telling them they must now “repay the public’s trust” and deliver Brexit.

The prime minister, who won the biggest Tory majority since the Thatcher-era last week, told his 109 new MPs that he wanted to work to “change the whole country for the better”.

Mr Johnson, speaking at a Westminster drinks reception last night, also made clear that his Brexit deal would be back before Parliament this week.

The prime minister’s spokesman said: “This election and the new generation of MPs that have resulted from Labour towns turning blue will help change our politics for the better.

“The PM has been very clear that we have a responsibility to deliver a better future for our country and that we must repay the public’s trust by getting Brexit done.

“Our job is to serve the people of this country and the ‘people’s government’ will deliver on the people’s priorities.”

On Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal, the spokesman added: “We plan to start the process before Christmas and will do so in the proper constitutional way in discussion with the Speaker.”

The government is set to attempt to push the withdrawal agreement through its final Commons stages in January and will hope the Bill then clears the Lords quickly to allow the UK to leave the EU on January 31.

However, approving the legislation will not mean the Brexit saga is over. The UK will remain in the EU until at least the end of 2020 during the implementation period.

This time will be used by Brussels and London to hammer out a trade deal and decide on their future relationship on subjects such as security.

But EU figures have been highly sceptical this can be sorted within the year, with chief negotiator Michel

Barnier saying the timetable was “unrealistic” in leaked comments.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Johnson undertook a mini-Cabinet reshuffle which saw Simon Hart appointed as the Welsh secretary.

The MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire replaces Alan Cairns, who was forced to stand down over his links to an aide accused of sabotaging a rape trial.

Mr Hart was previously a junior minister at the Cabinet Office and his promotion marks his first entry to the Cabinet.

The reshuffle also saw Nicky Morgan kept on as culture secretary, despite standing down as an MP.

Downing Street said she would be made a life peer and would take questions in the House of Lords.

Now Baroness Morgan, she cited abuse and the impact being an MP had on her family life among the reasons she did not stand for re-election this year.