Image source, Reuters

The EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has described Boris Johnson's first speech to MPs as "rather combative".

In a note sent to EU leaders' aides, he said eliminating the backstop, as Mr Johnson has proposed, would be "unacceptable and not within the mandate of the European Council".

He also warned that although "no deal will never be the EU’s choice... we all have to be ready for all scenarios".

"In any case, what remains essential on our side is to remain calm, stick to our principles and guidelines and show solidarity and unity of the 27."

He added that he would "remain available throughout the summer for talks with the UK".

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Downing Street has been unable to confirm that there will be any new legislation to underpin the prime minister's "unequivocal" commitment to protect EU citizens' rights.

Asked by the BBC if there were specific plans for new legislation, the Number 10 spokesman said he didn't know of any but that one million EU citizens had applied for settled status to guarantee their rights.

The spokesman suggested rights could be protected under 1972 immigration legislation, despite the new immigration legislation promised by Theresa May not clearing the Commons.

This is unlikely to satisfy the Conservative MP Alberto Costa, who resigned as a parliamentary aide over the issue. He told the BBC News Channel he would now be “scrutinising” how Boris Johnson brings forward his promise to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.

Image source, Getty Images

A number of cabinet ministers, and indeed Boris Johnson himself, have said that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK will be able to withhold £39bn from the EU.

Yesterday the new prime minister said the amount - an estimate for the so-called "divorce bill" - could provide "lubrication" for extra spending after no deal.

Leaving aside whether this would happen, the £39bn figure is now out of date.

The financial settlement in the Brexit deal does not contain a figure, but rather a method for calculating the money the UK owes.

Because the UK has extended its EU membership beyond the original March 29 leaving date, the UK has already paid some of this as membership contributions.

Based on the new exit date of 31 October, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says the real figure is now more like £33bn, external.

This does not mean the overall amount that the UK transfers to the EU will change, but technically the size of the settlement has.

Image source, EPA

Conservative Alberto Costa - the MP who has been campaigning for the rights of EU citizens living in the UK - has given a cautious welcome to Mr Johnson's words on the subject, adding that the "devil is in the detail".

In his statement to MPs, Mr Johnson said EU citizens would have "absolute certainty" of their right to live and remain in the country.

However, Mr Costa said that guarantee had to be "underpinned in law".

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Boris Johnson will speak by phone at 16:45 BST, a commission spokesman says.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now starting a debate on "matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment".

This debate, traditionally held before Parliament breaks for recess, allows MPs to make a speech on the subject of their choice.

The summer recess begins after the Commons ends today - MPs are then due back in Westminster on Tuesday 3 September.

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Parliament

That's it. Two-and-a-half hours (give or take a few seconds) after he first stood up, the question-and-answer session following Boris Johnson's first statement to the Commons as PM is over.

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Parliament

Labour's Rupa Huq asks Boris Johnson to re-state the support he expressed as London mayor for granting long-term illegal immigrants an amnesty.

In reply, he says he raised the idea while in government previously but it "didn't receive an overwhelming endorsement" from Theresa May.

He says "theoretically being committed" to expel up to half a million people is a legal position that is "anomalous".

He promises to "look at" the economic advantages and disadvantages of an amnesty.

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Parliament

Labour's Catherine West asks Boris Johnson to guarantee entry-level cleaners at all government departments will be paid the London Living Wage.

"The answer is yes," replies the new prime minister.

He adds that payment of the London Living Wage "massively expanded" in the capital during his time as mayor.

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Parliament

It's two hours since the new prime minister got to his feet, and the demands from backbench MPs are still coming think and fast.

Conservative Sir David Amess is up, asking Boris Johnson for help in his long-standing campaign to get city status for Southend-on-Sea.

He asks Mr Johnson to get one of his new ministers to organise a "city status competition" to this end.

Mr Johnson says he has "no alternative but to answer in the affirmative to that question".

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Parliament

Conservative Mark Menzies asks the new PM for a commitment to fund "small projects" in the north of England, such as new roads.

In reply, Boris Johnson promises to "invest massively" in road infrastructure.

He says that although he believes "passionately" in mass-transit public transport, the future of the road infrastructure matters hugely to many people.

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Parliament

Tory MP Alberto Costa asks the new prime minister to do "everything in his power" to protect the rights of the 1.3 million UK citizens living in the EU.

Mr Costa has been campaigning for the citizens' rights provisions in the current Brexit deal to be carved out into a separate agreement to give people certainty.

Boris Johnson says it should be in the EU's interests to give British citizens "systematical protection" to that offered to EU citizens by the UK.

"I'm sure that they will," he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Chris Bryant asks the new prime minister to scrap the five-week wait to receive the first payment under the universal credit benefits system.

He says this provision puts many people into debt as soon as they are moved onto the new system from the old benefits scheme.

In reply, Boris Johnson says those migrating on to universal credit can now get a "100% advance" on future payments on day one.

Backing the changes to the system, he says the old welfare provisions "kept people trapped on benefits".