Boris Johnson claims ‘huge amount of progress’ in Brexit talks

Johnson also compared Britain to Marvel Comics' Incredible Hulk

Boris Johnson claims ‘huge amount of progress’ in Brexit talks UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is confident of finalising a Brexit deal | AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday he was making “huge amount of progress” with regard to the Brexit deal.

European Union leaders will gather for a final summit on October 17 before the UK's scheduled exit from the bloc. Johnson said that it will take a lot of work between now and the 17th. “But I'm going to go to that summit and I'm going to get a deal. I'm very confident. And if we don't get a deal, then we'll come out on October 31.”

Johnson also reference the Incredible Hulk as he compared Britain to the Marvel comics character. “The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets and he always escaped, no matter how tightly bound in he seemed to be. And that is the case for this country.”

“We will come out on October 31 and we will get it done, believe me,” he added.

Johnson has repeatedly said that he would delay Brexit under no circumstances.

However, Johnson has been facing setbacks after some rebel Conservatives defected to Liberal Democrats. Former universities minister Sam Gyimah on Saturday joined those who defected to the opposition. Gyimah has strongly criticised Johnson's threat to leave the EU with no deal, and has called for a re-run of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

The EU has insisted that the current deal is the best offer on the table. Johnson wants to renegotiate the terms, which were rejected by the parliament.

Johnson took over from predecessor Theresa May in July promising to leave the EU in October with or without a deal, but has faced resistance from the House of Commons. He threatened MPs to back his no deal Brexit plan, but 21 Conservative MPs backed the legislation blocking it. They were soon expelled from the party.