Summary

  • Boris Johnson faced half an hour of questions on BBC Breakfast

  • He says the Iran nuclear deal should be replaced with a "Trump deal"

  • He says it is "enormously likely" there will be a trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020

  • The PM suggests a public fundraising campaign so Big Ben can ring on 31 January when the UK leaves the EU

  • Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab makes statement on situation in Iran to MPs

  • Commons continues debate on Queen's Speech

  1. NHS is 'top priority'published at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    The next item of the agenda is the NHS.

    As Dan Walker asks if people will see a real improvement in the struggling health service, Mr Johnson says it is our "number one priority".

    He repeats claims from the Tory manifesto that there will be 50,000 more nurses, 6,000 more GPs and an improving waiting time for patients.

    "We are going to be working on this absolutely flat out," he says.

  2. How much for the NHS?published at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    Reality Check

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was putting £34bn into the NHS - a claim he's repeated a number of times.

    The Conservatives are investing £20.5bn in the NHS in England by 2023-24 once we account for inflation (rising prices).

    Mr Johnson is using what's known as a "cash terms" figure but that's not considered a helpful measure of how much more money the health service actually has to spend.

  3. Brexit deal by end of year is 'enormously' likely - PMpublished at 08:26 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    PM

    The PM says it is "enormously, epically likely" there will be a comprehensive trade deal with the EU by the end of this year.

    He accepts that "you always have to budget for a complete failure of common sense", but adds: "I'm very, very, very, confident - there's three verys there - that we will get [it]."

    "This is not about a deal, it's about building a great new partnership," he says.

    "The key thing is that we're coming out of the EU on January 31."

    Big BenImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    He adds that he's "working up a plan" to let Big Ben ring out on "Brexit night", but that it could cost £500,000.

    "That is expensive and we're looking at whether... we can fund it," he says.

  4. Johnson: I want to be as available as I canpublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    There were reports over the weekend comparing Boris Johnson to a "submarine" lurking under the surface, rather than facing public scrutiny.

    Dan Walker asks: "Are we going to see a different Boris Johnson in 2020?"

    After joking that he "hopes to lose some weight", the PM says: "The submarine is crashing through the ice flows right now... Here I am talking to you!"

    Defending his record on talking to the press, he adds: "I gave two press conferences yesterday... and I want to be as available as I can.

    "But I do believe in cabinet government. I want them to be leading.

    "I want people excited about their work to deliver to the public."

  5. Iran nuclear deal: Key detailspublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    Image shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plantImage source, Getty Images

    Mr Johnson has been talking about the Iran nuclear deal, originally signed with the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.

    The deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and negotiated by US President Donald Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

    Mr Johnson said there was an opportunity for President Trump - who has abandoned the deal - to agree a replacement deal with Iran.

    Read more about the current Iran nuclear deal here.

  6. Johnson: I am a massive fan of the Royal Familypublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    Boris Johnson

    Boris Johnson is next asked about the Royal Family, and the ongoing debate about the future of Harry and Meghan.

    He says: "My view on this is very straightforward.

    "I am a massive fan, certainly of the Queen and of the Royal Family... it is a fantastic asset for our country.

    "I am confident they are going to sort this out... but it will be easier without any particular commentary from me.

    "All those dilemmas are well understood, and I have absolutely no doubt they are going to sort it out."

    The PM compliments Dan Walker "on his style" when he puts the question another way, but still refuses to give his own view.

    "Everybody has got an opinion but that does not necessarily mean the question is helped by politicians weighing in."

  7. 'Hard to say' if Iran tensions have complicated Zaghari-Ratcliffe casepublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    Boris Johnson

    Dan Walker asks the PM if the situation in Iran has made the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran, more difficult.

    "It's hard to say,"... Mr Johnson replies, adding: "Let's see how we go."

    Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker from London, has been detained for more than three years over spying allegations she denies.

    Mr Johnson says he's seeing her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, soon, to discuss the case.

  8. Johnson: We are in a better place nowpublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    Dan Walker asks Boris Johnson where he was when the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January.

    The PM was, of course, on holiday.

    Mr Johnson is pushed on why he did not return home early from his trip, but avoids giving a direct answer.

    He says: "My job was to conserve the UK response and European response [and] work hard to ensure there was no escalation.

    "We are in a better place now".

  9. Johnson: Glad Iran has accepted responsibility for plane crashpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    The first topic Dan Walker asks Boris Johnson about is Iran and the ongoing tensions with the US.

    The Iranian president has spoken about the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed 176 people.

    Speaking from inside Downing Street, the prime minister says he is "glad they have accepted responsibility and identified it as an appalling mistake".

    He says that "clearly Iran made a terrible mistake", but adds: "The most important thing is tensions in the region calm down."

    Mr Johnson adds: "Iran is an amazing country. They should be orientated towards... our way of doing things, yet they are the captives of the approach [their] government has."

  10. What a difference a majority makes...published at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    FlagsImage source, PA Media

    After December's election, Boris Johnson is in a much stronger position than he was previously, with a majority of 80 in the Commons.

    This means plans the government puts forward are likely to pass, as there aren't enough opposition MPs to vote against them.

    Such plans, of course, include the PM's Brexit bill, which passed through the Commons last week.

    As the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said: "There was not a single moment of doubt, of jeopardy, no sniff of uncertainty or truly fierce debate that might have stopped it happening."

    Now the legislation is in the Lords, so we can expect some debate on the topic, but little to change.

  11. Will PM get pulled into Harry and Meghan debate?published at 07:55 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    BBC Breakfast

    Dan Walker, Ayesha Hazarika and Katie Perrior

    Dan Walker is wondering whether or not he'll be able to get the PM's thoughts about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's plan to step back from royal life.

    Katie Perrior, Theresa May’s former director of communications and a colleague of Boris Johnson's when he was mayor of London, says politicians “should probably stay out” of commenting on the situation.

    “It’s nothing to do with him, really… it’s someone else’s business," she adds.

    Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika points out the PM might, however, know how the Royal Family is feeling.

    He probably has “some sympathy” with a “high-profile family” struggling with “divisions”, she quips.

  12. Key points...published at 07:53 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

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  13. Larry is keeping an eye...published at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

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  14. What topics can we expect?published at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Reuters

    We haven't seen Dan Walker's questions yet, but there are lots of things he will be keen to probe the prime minister on.

    Perhaps Boris Johnson will give us his view on the big royal news with Harry and Meghan?

    With ministers meeting with FlyBe later, could he be asked about the future of the airline?

    And perhaps the use of Huawei in the UK's future 5G networks could come up?

    We will find out in 10 minutes...

  15. Good morningpublished at 07:48 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2020

    Downing Street

    Welcome to the BBC Politics live page.

    We are ready and waiting for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's first big interview of 2020.

    BBC's Breakfast's Dan Walker is at No 10 for a sit down with the PM, due to start just after 08:00 GMT.

    We will bring you all the news from that one-on-one so stay with us for live updates.