UK

‘You’re playing games!’ Johnson gets taste of public anger from man with Irish accent

British prime minister harangued during walkabout in Leeds

British prime minister Boris Johnson has been accused of "playing games" in parliament by a member of the public - who appeared to speak with an Irish accent - while walking on the street in Leeds. Video: BBC/Reuters

Sat Sep 7 2019 - 10:22

British prime minister Boris Johnson got a taste of just how deeply his Brexit strategy has split public opinion in his country when he was persistently harangued by man on a shopping street for "playing games" while others cheered the prime minister.

Mr Johnson, who is pushing for a snap election, was speaking to a BBC television crew in Leeds on Thursday when a man pushing a child in a stroller, and speaking with a strong Irish accent, interrupted the interview.

"You're playing games with parliament. You're playing games with the public," the man shouted at Mr Johnson. "You should be in Brussels negotiating. Where's the negotiation going on? Where is it? You're in Morley in Leeds. You should be in Brussels."

Mr Johnson was initially unable to respond before challenging the man when he said the British government's negotiations with the European Union about a new Brexit deal were going nowhere.

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"Actually that's not true at all. We are on the verge of getting a deal," Mr Johnson said before repeating his criticism of the opposition Labour Party for not agreeing immediately to his demand for an early election.

The member of the public spoke with a strong Irish accent

A crowd gathered and some people began to argue with Mr Johnson’s challenger.

Mr Johnson turned to the onlookers and said: “Can I just ask people here: do you think we should get out on October 31st?”

Some people shouted: "Yes!" and cheered. Others shouted: "No!" Johnson got another mixed response when he asked the crowd if he thought Labour's leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was standing in the way of Brexit.

Mr Johnson was given a clearer message in a separate encounter with a member of the public during his trip to Leeds.

Video footage showed the prime minister shaking hands with a man on a street who smiled before telling him with a smile: “Please leave my town.”

“I will very soon,” Mr Johnson replied. - Reuters

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