EU election drubbing is 'final warning' to Tory party over Brexit, warns Boris Johnson
Chris Baynes
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European elections: Conservative party's humiliating defeat brings no-deal closer
The prospect of a no-deal Brexit has come closer, as contenders for the Conservative leadership responded to their humiliation at the hands of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party by vowing to take the UK out of the European Union in October.Tories were plunged into a humiliating fifth place in the European Parliament election with just 9 per cent of the vote, losing all but four of their 19 MEPs as a rampant Brexit Party won over millions of voters frustrated at Theresa May’s failure to leave as planned on March 29.Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the results amounted to an “existential risk” for the party, warning that “unless we unite and deliver Brexit, the public will continue to punish us at the ballot box." And Esther McVey, the only candidate openly campaigning for a no-deal withdrawal, said: “The message from our voters is clear - we must leave the EU on 31 October with a clean break, nothing else will wash now.“People saying we need a Brexit policy to bring people together are misreading the situation. That is clearly not possible.”Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who entered the crowded race for the succession on Monday, was alone in stressing the need to “bridge divisions” in the hope of healing the scars of the long-running debate over EU membership.In a social media video released under the hashtag TeamSaj, he said he wanted to “rebuild trust, to find unity and to create new opportunities for our country".> “I’m standing to be the next leader of the @Conservatives & Prime Minister of our great country. We need to restore trust, bring unity and create new opportunities across the UK. First and foremost, we must deliver Brexit” - @sajidjavid > > Join @TeamSaj to help us do just that. pic.twitter.com/LqWHidWp0M> > — TeamSaj (@TeamSaj) > > May 27, 2019Ms May said it had been a “very disappointing” night for the Tories which had shown “the importance of finding a Brexit deal”. And she added: “I sincerely hope these results focus minds in Parliament.”The prime minister – who announced her resignation plans the day after Thursday’s vote – had never wanted the UK to take part in the elections to the European Parliament, three years after the referendum decision to quit the EU. She made only the briefest foray onto the election battlefield, failing to launch the campaign or produce a manifesto.A triumphant Farage, who demanded a place for his party in EU withdrawal negotiations, said he was ready to “replace” the Tories if they failed to deliver Brexit.He dismissed suggestions that he would work with potential Tory leaders like Boris Johnson or Michael Gove who had previously voted for Ms May’s deal, asking: "Why would I work with a party I don't trust? Why would I work with a party who have openly, wilfully lied to the British people?”Nigel Farage says the Brexit Party could 'stun everybody' in a general electionThe leadership rivals were united in agreeing that the message from voters was that Brexit must be delivered.Dominic Raab said: "Voters have sent us a very clear message: unless we get on and actually leave the EU they will rightly kick us out at the next election.”And former leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom, who quit the cabinet over Brexit days before Ms May’s downfall, said:”It is now vital we now find a way to decisively leave the EU.”Mr Johnson said the Conservatives had been issued with a “final warning” by voters in the European elections and face a “permanent haemorrhage” of support if they do not deliver Brexit.The leadership frontrunner said his party would be “dismissed from the job of running the country” if it did not respond to Sunday night’s humiliation by taking the UK out of the EU.Daniel Hannan, one of only few Tory MEPs to retained their seats in the European parliament, insisted the Conservatives’ fortunes would be turned around and the Farage threat neutralised once the UK leaves.“The appeal of a party called the Brexit Party will dry up very quickly once Brexit has happened,” he said.Several candidates, including Mr Johnson and Mr Raab, have said they would be willing to let the UK crash out of the EU without a deal on 31 October.Children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is backing Mr Raab, said on Monday morning he was “not frightened” of that prospect.But other Tories, including chancellor Philip Hammond and leadership hopeful Rory Stewart, have indicated they could back a no-confidence vote to topple any prime minister who tried to pursue a no-deal Brexit.
The Conservatives have been issued with a “final warning” by voters in the European elections and face a “permanent haemorrhage” of support if they do not deliver Brexit, Boris Johnson has warned.
The Tory leadership frontrunner said his party would be “dismissed from the job of running the country” if it did not respond to Sunday night’s humiliation by taking the UK out of the EU.
Nigel Farage’s insurgent Brexit Party took nearly a third of the national vote to top the polls as a swell of support for the pro-Remain Liberal Democrats and Greens pushed to Conservatives down to fifth place.
The Tories won just three seats and less than 9 per cent of the vote overnight in the worst nationwide election result in their 185-year history.
“Today our employers – the people – have figuratively summoned us to the Human Resources department for a final warning about our performance,” wrote Mr Johnson in his Daily Telegraph column.
He added: “The message from these results is clear. If we go on like this, we will be fired: dismissed from the job of running the country.
“The only way to avert that outcome is to honour the result of the 2016 referendum, and come out of the EU; and that means doing it properly.
“If we fail yet again to discharge that mandate, then I fear we will see a permanent haemorrhage of Conservative support, and loyal voters who have left us to join the Brexit Party (and others) may simply never come back.”
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is also vying to replace Theresa May as prime minister, said the Conservatives’ failure to deliver take Britain out of the EU posed an “existential risk” to the party.
He said the “painful” EU election result should drive the Tories to “come together and get Brexit done”.
Daniel Hannan, one of only few Tory MEPs to retained their seats in European parliament, said the outcome of Thursday’s vote was ”without question our worst result as a party ever”.
But he suggested the Conservatives’ fortunes would be turned around and the threat from Mr Farage’s Brexit Party neutralised if the UK did leave the EU.
“People voted to leave three years ago and we haven’t left, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
He added: “The appeal of a party called the Brexit Party will dry up very quickly once Brexit has happened.”
The success of Mr Farage’s party is likely to harden the stance of Tory leadership contenders who want a no-deal Brexit to remain on the table, as well as deepening party divisions on the issue.
Several candidates, including Mr Johnson and Dominic Raab, have said they would be willing to let the UK crash out of the EU without a deal on 31 October.
Children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is backing Mr Raab, said on Monday morning he was “not frightened” of that prospect.
But other Tories, including chancellor Philip Hammond and leadership hopeful Rory Stewart, have indicated they could back a no-confidence vote to topple any prime minister who tried to pursue a no-deal Brexit.
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