Boris Johnson Kicks Off His Campaign With a Big Promise

And he finds a new way to ridicule opponent Jeremy Corbyn
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 24, 2019 4:15 PM CST
Boris Johnson Kicks Off His Campaign With Ridicule
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, speaks to supporters, while holding his party's manifesto, during a General Election campaign visit to Thurrock, England, Sunday Nov. 24, 2019.   (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

The formal launch of the Conservative Party’s election pledges Sunday centered around the key plank of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s campaign: making Brexit happen, the AP reports. Speaking to a friendly crowd, Johnson trashed his opponents—most notably the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, his prime rival—and claimed that his Conservatives are the sole party in next month’s election that will actually get Brexit done. A platform launch is often used to introduce a number of new promises and programs, but Johnson chose instead to hone his message, reiterating his party’s Brexit stance. "Unlike any other party standing in this election, we are going to get Brexit done," he told supporters while waving his party’s printed platform.

Johnson said the rival parties—the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and others—would only bring more delay and eventually betray the will of voters as expressed in the 2016 vote in favoring of leaving the EU. Johnson spent more time ridiculing opposition Corbyn than offering details about his party platform, poking fun at Corbyn's plan to remain neutral if a second referendum is held next year, as Labour wants. "Let's go carbon-neutral by 2050 and Corbyn-neutral by Christmas," Johnson said to appreciative chuckles from the crowd. In his response, Corbyn said Johnson can't be trusted. "After a decade of the Conservatives cutting our NHS, police and schools, all Boris Johnson is offering is more of the same: more cuts, more failure, and years more of Brexit uncertainty," he said.

(More Brexit stories.)

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