Jo Swinson likens Boris Johnson to 'socialist dictator' as she says old parties have 'failed'
2 min read
Boris Johnson has behaved like "a socialist dictator" since becoming Prime Minister, according to Jo Swinson.
The Lib Dem leader will condemn her Tory opposite number over his decision to suspend Parliament, sack 21 MPs from his party and threats to ignore a new law blocking a no-deall Brexit.
In her fkeynote speech to the Lib Dem conference, Ms Swinson will say: “Silencing critics. Purging opponents. Ignoring the law.
“For someone who proclaims to hate socialist dictators, he’s doing a pretty good impression of one.”
Ms Swinson will also slam the Prime Minister’s “sickening” stance on no-deal as she pushes the Lib Dems newly-agreed position to revoke Article 50 if they win a general election.
“Planning for no-deal is like planning to burn your house down,” she will say. “You might have insurance, but you’re still going to lose all your stuff.”
She will add: “The first task is clear. We must stop Brexit.
“And we are crystal clear: a Liberal Democrat majority government will revoke Article 50 on day one.
“Because there is no Brexit that will be good for our country. Brexit will put lives at risk.”
Ms Swinson will also compare Jeremy Corbyn to Nigel Farage, claiming both men back Brexit.
"Even now, when faced with all the clear and obvious dangers that Brexit brings, Jeremy Corbyn still insists that if Labour win a general election, they will negotiate their own Brexit deal to take us out of the EU,” she will say.
“Nigel Farage might be Brexit by name, but it is very clear that Jeremy Corbyn is Brexit by nature.”
The comments will come at the end of the Lib Dems' conference in Bournemouth, where former Conservative minister Sam Gyimah was revealed as the newest defection to the party - the sixth former Tory or Labour MP to do so.
Ms Swinson will say: “The tired old parties have failed. Looking inward at a time of national crisis.
“Our country needs us, at this precarious time. We do not have ten, or fifteen years. We need to seize the opportunity now.
“There is no limit to my ambition for our party.
“And today I am standing here as your candidate for Prime Minister.”
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