British Prime Minister Boris Johnson used the launch of his Conservative Party platform to claim that his is the only party in next month's election that will complete the Brexit process.
"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, which was unveiled on Sunday.
Johnson said rivals - the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party, and others - would only bring more delay and eventually betray the will of voters as expressed in the 2016 vote in favour of leaving the European Union.
Labour has outlined ambitious and costly new proposals while the Conservative platform, only about half as long as Labour's, takes a more limited view of what is needed. Johnson repeated several times that making Brexit happen would "unleash" the United Kingdom's potential.
Johnson spent more time ridiculing opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn than offering details about the plans laid out in the party platform, poking fun repeatedly at Corbyn's plan to remain neutral if a second referendum is held next year.
"Let's go carbon-neutral by 2050 and Corbyn-neutral by Christmas," he said to appreciative chuckles from the crowd.
Johnson promised to bring his Brexit deal back to Parliament before Christmas, with passage likely assured if the Conservatives win a majority in the December 12 vote. He said that would enable his government to get Britain out of the EU by the January 31 deadline while other parties would slow the process down for months or stop it altogether.
Brexit was the sole focus of his party's platform loss. Johnson is trying to keep the focus on Brexit policy, while Corbyn's Labour hopes people will look at a broader range of issues, including the funding of the National Health Service and restoration of cuts in public services.
(source: Al Jazeera)
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