New MPs ready to vote on Brexit deal

BORIS Johnson is to address his new intake of Tory MPs as they prepare to vote on his Brexit deal.

The prime minister will welcome the 109 newly elected colleagues to the House of Commons today.

Mr Johnson will use his majority of 80 to get his Withdrawal Agreement Bill (Wab) to implement Brexit approved so the UK can formally leave the EU by the end of January.

The PM has pledged to bring the Bill back before the Commons before Christmas but it is not yet known when MPs will begin voting on it.

Ahead of the private speech, a Number 10 source said: “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. That’s why the first piece of legislation new MPs will vote on will be the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.”

It is expected to be an eventful week in Westminster, with a Government reshuffle on the cards and the swearing-in of MPs to begin tomorrow.

Mr Johnson is not the only leader who will be welcoming a new intake of MPs today, with the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford expected to meet his new colleagues.

This will demonstrate one of the greatest problems the PM is expected to face – Nicola Sturgeon’s party will be making intensifying demands for a fresh Scottish independence referendum.

Ms Sturgeon insisted the Tories were “raging against reality” by blocking another independence vote as she vowed to “pursue the plan I won a mandate for”.

But senior cabinet member Michael Gove said the Conservatives would “absolutely” not hold another public vote on the matter during the course of the Parliament, regardless of the result of the 2021 Holyrood election.

Labour will also have a busy week as the party seeks to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader after suffering its worst general election result since 1935.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at 10 Downing Street.