Committed to leaving EU on October 31, whatever the circumstances: PM Boris Johnson in Parliament

Newly-appointed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson today addressed the House of Commons for the first time laying out his government's Brexit plan.

In his first address to the British Parliament, Prime Minister Johnson said his government's mission was to deliver Brexit by October 31.

"This government wants to make this country the greatest place on earth," PM Johnson said in his address.

"Terms of current withdrawal agreements are unacceptable to this Parliament and to this country," he asserted.

"The Irish backstop must be abolished to reach a Brexit deal," he said.

"I and all ministers are committed to leaving the EU on October 31, whatever the circumstances," he told British Parliamentarians.

In his reply, Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: We will reject any Brexit deal that fails to protect jobs, workers' rights or environmental protections."

Soon after taking over as the prime minister, Johnson on Wednesday evening appointed his cabinet with Sajid Javed named as the new finance minister and Priti Patel as interior minister.

During the Cabinet meeting, Johnson said: "We are now committed all of us to leaving the European Union on October 31 or indeed earlier. No ifs, no buts."

The EU and Britain had agreed to reach an agreement by October 31, with just 98 days left, Johnson had expressed confidence that Britain would be able to meet the deadline during his inaugural speech at 10 Downing Street.