THE FORMER Chairman of the Pudsey Conservative Association, has described Boris Johnson’s Conservative conference speech as “vacuous, irresponsible drivel.”

Dr Jason Aldiss, who served in a succession of senior positions across the Party for almost 25 years, resigned his membership on the day Mr Johnson was appointed Prime Minister.

Dr Aldiss said: “His poor attempts at humour when we are in the midst of a national crisis were characteristically ill-judged, even when delivered to an audience of baying fools.

“He claimed the country is ready for a no-deal Brexit when we’re clearly not.

“He described the Irish border problem – which was never mentioned by the Leave campaign before the referendum – as ‘a technical discussion’ about customs when it is actually about the integrity of the EU Single Market, a genuine threat to the Good Friday Agreement and a severe risk to the future of the Union itself.

“Johnson said he remains determined to deliver Brexit on 31 October ‘come what may’ but the Benn Act makes a no-deal Brexit illegal.”

He stressed: “This man cannot be allowed to plunge our nation into the abyss of a no-deal Brexit.

In his keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference Mr Johnson insisted his plan to replace the Irish backstop would “in no circumstances” result in checks at or near the border in Northern Ireland.

He said: “Today in Brussels we are tabling what I believe are constructive and reasonable proposals which provide a compromise for both sides.”

The plans would “respect the peace process and the Good Friday agreement”, Mr Johnson said.