Boris Johnson tells his new MPs: You're here to get things done

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Jacob Jarvis16 December 2019
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Boris Johnson told his new MPs they are in their jobs to "get things done" as he welcomed them in Westminster this evening.

It comes amid massive shake up in the ranks of the House of Commons following Thursday's vote, with an intake of 139 new MPs are due to officially start work this week.

Flick Drummond, the new MP for Meon Valley, said: “He talked about how excited he was to see so many of us here. He said we are here to get things done. We are here to get Brexit done."

She described the PM as "very inspiring" following his speech.

Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne, said: “There is a real energy, a real buzz. Everybody is very keen to move forward.”

Paul Howell, who took Tony Blair’s old Sedgefield seat, said: “It is a fabulous occasion. It is a new profile for the Conservative Party. We have got to deliver across the country.”

The PM posed alongside the MPs in Westminster, after Number 10 also announced some Cabinet updates.

It was detailed that Nicky Morgan will become a life peer and remain Culture Secretary, while Simon Hart will become the Welsh Secretary.

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The early tweaks come ahead of a wider reshuffle Mr Johnson is set to carry out for his top team in February, with reports that up to a third of his Cabinet could go.

It comes after it was confirmed the PM will put his Brexit bill before MPs on Friday.

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His spokesman said the bill would aim to put the terms of the deal agreed between Mr Johnson and the EU into law.

He added that the government was confident of going on to secure a long term free trade agreement with the bloc.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “We plan to start the process before Christmas and will do so in the proper constitutional way in discussion with the Speaker.”

Asked if the legislation would be identical to that introduced in the last parliament, the PM’s spokesman said: “You will have to wait for it to be published but it will reflect the agreement that we made with the EU on our withdrawal.”

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