The UK marks five years since the Brexit referendum on Wednesday amid an ongoing row over trade with Northern Ireland.
Boris Johnson acknowledged the fifth anniversary of the vote by claiming it was his “mission” to use the UK’s new position in the world to deliver a better future for the British people.
“The decision to leave the EU may now be part of our history, but our clear mission is to utilise the freedoms it brings to shape a better future for our people,” he said.
However, in a sharply contrasting message, the veteran pro-European Lord Heseltine said the outlook was “ominous”, with the Northern Ireland peace process under real threat.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has dismissed a warning that “hundreds of thousands of people” will die from tropical diseases because of his aid cuts during his weekly grilling at PMQs.
– Boris Johnson dismisses warning ‘hundreds of thousands’ will die from overseas aid cuts
Boris Johnson has dismissed a warning that “hundreds of thousands of people” will die from tropical diseases because of his aid cuts – despite it coming from the World Health Organisation.
The prime minister also refused to grant an early vote on the controversy, despite being ordered by the Commons Speaker to allow MPs to have their say.
– PM condemns ‘bizarre and unacceptable’ practice of retailer throwing working laptops in landfill
Labour’s Julie Elliott asked the PM to “unequivocally condemn” online retail giant Amazon amid reports that working electronic products were being trown away.
Boris Johnson replied that he was “shocked and amazed” that items such as laptops were going to landfill rather than being donated to charity. “The practise is bizarre and unacceptable,” he said.
– Outgoing DUP leader warns of paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland
Edwin Poots, the DUP’s outgoing leader, has warned about the risk of paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland if the Brexit trade dispute is not resolved.
Interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show, Mr Poots said: “In terms of where loyalism is at this moment in time, I think what you would have witnessed earlier in the year was largely young loyalists who were not connected to parliamentary organisations.
“I fear that if things don’t change over the course of the summer time, that perhaps some older people who are involved in paramilitaries will get involved.
“That’s my fear – that if we do not resolve things politically, the street politics will become the focus and street politics has the potential to lead to violence and therefore it is incumbent upon us to ensure the politics works, and a failure of politics has the potential for a significant problem in our community, which could lead to people being hurt, and we should really try to avoid that.”
