Boris Johnson welcomed the 2019 intake of MPs to the Commons yesterday, declaring it to be “one of the best parliaments ever produced”.
The prime minister made the comments to deafening cheers from Tory MPs as Westminster reconvened for the first time since the election was called in November.
Mr Johnson then congratulated Sir Lindsay Hoyle on his re-election as Speaker, before saying: “Mr Speaker, I don’t know what you think, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to those who are no longer with us, but I think that this parliament is a vast improvement on its predecessor.
“I would say it is one of the best parliaments that this country has ever produced, with more female members than ever before, more black and minority ethnic members than ever before.
“This parliament is not going to waste the time of the nation in deadlock and division and delay.
“On Friday of this week this parliament is going to put the Withdrawal Agreement in the popty ping as we say in Wales and then this new democratic parliament, this people’s parliament, is going to do something.
“We’re going to get Brexit done.”
Mr Johnson also used his first speech of the new parliament to pledge to “defend the union”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, to muted praise, paid tribute to the scores of MPs on his side of the political divide who lost their seats last week.
He added: “The prime minister in the campaign made many, many promises and therefore has tremendous responsibilities to live up to.
“He will be judged on whether he keeps those promises or not by the communities that he has made them to.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, meanwhile, marked his party’s strong performance at the polls by pledging to provide leadership.
He said: “These are uncertain and challenging times. The public are now looking at this place for leadership.”
