Boris Johnson launched his Tory leadership campaign with a warning that MPs faced “mortal retribution” if they attempted to block Brexit.
The former foreign secretary, speaking in a plush Westminster conference room, said the Tories would face a “real existential threat” of electoral wipeout at the next election unless the UK left the EU by October 31.
Mr Johnson, in a testy series of exchanges with journalists following his speech, also defended comments comparing veiled Muslim women to letterboxes and refused to clarify his past illegal drug use.
The former London mayor said that occasionally “some plaster comes off the ceiling because of a phrase I may have used, or because a phrase has been wrenched out of context”.
But he said the public feel alienated from politicians, because “too often we are muffling and veiling our language: not speaking as we find; covering everything up in bureaucratic platitudes, when what they want to hear is what we really think”.
He added: “Of course I am sorry for the offence I have caused, but I will continue to speak as directly as I can.”
Pressed directly on whether he had ever taken cocaine, Mr Johnson said: “I think the canonical account of this event when I was 19 has appeared many times and I think what most people in this country really want us to focus on is what we can do for them and what our plans are for this great country of ours.”
In his speech, Mr Johnson sought to pitch himself as a one nation prime minister who would boost infrastructure spending and increase funding for education.
He said: “It should be our fundamental moral purpose as a government not just to bridge the wealth gap, not just the productivity gap, but the opportunity gap, between one part of the UK and another.
“And I know we can do it: I know we can unite our country and our society.”
He also sought to talk up his Union credentials, saying: “In everything we do, we will seek to strengthen the union of our four nations, that invincible quartet, the awesome foursome that makes up the UK – the world’s soft power superpower.”
Mr Johnson was also tough on the need to get Brexit over the line, telling colleagues: “Around the country there is a mood of disillusion, even despair at our ability to get things done.
“The longer it goes on, the worse the risk of serious contamination and a real loss of confidence, because the people of this country deserve better from their leaders.
“We must leave the EU on October 31.”
That pledge was quickly condemned by Chancellor Philip Hammond, who said an exit on October 31 was the the equivalent of driving Britain “towards a cliff-edge at speed”.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid, backed by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, also launched his campaign yesterday – with a swipe at Mr Johnson.
He said his ex-Cabinet colleague was “yesterday’s news” and suggested he was one of the “same insiders with the same school ties” as he billed himself as the “change candidate”.
On Brexit, Mr Javid said he had the experience outside government to help him deliver the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and said he wanted to change the controversial Irish backstop.
However SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the race was “turning into a total horror show”.
“Boris Johnson and his Tory colleagues might be acting the clown – but a catastrophic no-deal Brexit is no joke,” he said.
“Crashing out of the EU could destroy 100,000 Scottish jobs, cost every person £2,300 a year and inflict lasting harm on our public services and the economy.”
Today, Tory MPs will cast their first vote in the leadership race, with contenders needing 16 or more backers to progress to the next round.
