Boris Johnson interview: Come together to repair the world under my leadership

'A tiny pathogen has stopped the world, we can't allow that to happen again,' prime minister tells 'The National'

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  JANUARY: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to spend the month pumped up by his achievement in giving the people what they voted for - Brexit. Five years since David Cameron announced he was calling a referendum on the UK leaving the EU, Mr Johnson holds the reins of power as the country hands back its membership and is cut adrift from the European project. A mask of Mr Johnson's face is waved in Parliament Square in as the clock ticks towards departure day.

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  JANUARY: Mr Johnson says he is ready to negotiate a Canada-style free trade agreement with Europe. But the first signs of trouble come in a meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who tells him it would be “basically impossible” to negotiate a close relationship by the end of this year. Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal, hammered out at the end of 2019 passes through the Commons in an historic vote bringing it a step closer to being enshrined in law. But after years of wrangling the moment is overshadowed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s announcement they are leaving the country, nicknamed Megxit. Mr Johnson attends a summit in Berlin to discuss the Libya conflict where, posted off to the side of the line-up, he jokes with other European leaders during the official photograph.

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  JANUARY: This is not the end, but a beginning Mr Johnson declares as he broadcasts to the nation at 11pm, the moment the country leaves the EU. He declares it a moment of hope that many people believed would never come. He acknowledges there would be bumps in the road but the country could turn the opportunity into a stunning success. He says he has obeyed the people by taking back the tools of self-government. Brexiteers gather across the country to celebrate ‘Brexit Hour’, while in Brussels the EU flag was lowered without ceremony at the UK’s representation to Europe, leaving just the Union Flag flying. Getty Images

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  FEBRUARY: Boris Johnson finalises his divorce deal with his estranged wife Marina Wheeler after a year-long financial dispute. It paves the way for marriage to his partner Carrie Symonds. By the end of the month, the couple announce they are engaged and expecting a baby. It’s thought he proposed while on holiday in Mustique over Christmas. Ms Symonds has not been seen publically for several months leading to speculation she may be pregnant. She posts on Instagram that she has a baby ‘hatching’ in early summer and releases a picture of the couple sharing a kiss.

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  MARCH: Mr Johnson takes personal control of the government’s response to the coronavirus crisis after being stung by claims his personal life has taken over and he is acting like a ‘part-time’ prime minister. He endures heavy criticism for not visiting areas of England hard hit by flooding. He leads a meeting of the emergency committee Cobra for the first time and sets out a blueprint for how he intends to tackle the outbreak, with a focus on a public health campaign encouraging handwashing. He then warns that lives may have to be put on hold for “up to three months” to fight the disease. He raises the spectre for the first time of people being told to avoid contact with the outside world. Supermarkets are hit by panic-buying as the gravity of the situation hits home, while on public transport people start wearing homemade masks as protection. Mr Johnson washes his hands during a visit to the Mologic Laboratory in the Bedford technology Park. Getty Images

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  MARCH: Mr Johnson begins a series of sombre press conferences at which he warns many people will die from coronavirus. With the death toll at 10 and cases likely around 10,000, he says the country faces the worst public health crisis for a generation. He urges people to work from home and stay away from pubs, restaurants and other social gatherings. He calls for people to avoid all non-essential contact and stop unnecessary travel, even putting a stop to visiting family in care homes. The first suggestions that the crisis may last 18 months are made. Getty Images

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  MARCH: Lockdown Britain is declared. He orders families to stay in their homes except in exceptional circumstances, shuts all non-essential shops, suspends weddings and tells people they should not meet other households. It is the biggest shutdown in the country’s history, but businesses and workers are offered some consolation with the introduction of a furlough scheme to pay half the wages of millions of workers. Members of a family listen as Mr Johnson makes a televised address to the nation from inside 10 Downing Street. AFP

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  MARCH: Mr Johnson takes part in the first 'Clap for Carers,' a weekly round of applause for NHS heroes that brings the nation out on their doorsteps to acknowledge the workers putting their lives at risk on the front line in the battle against coronavirus. He is soon in need of their assistance as he tests positive for Covid. Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also test positive, raising questions over whether the government had been following their own advice carefully enough. AFP

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  APRIL: Mr Johnson releases a video message in which he talks about the need for mass testing to “unlock the puzzle” of coronavirus. But all eyes are on his appearance as he is clearly struggling. He looks tired and short of breath. After a few days he is taken to hospital for precautionary tests as his condition worsens. Downing St insists he is still in charge, but the following day he is moved to intensive care as he struggles to breathe. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is placed in temporary charge of the government. Messages of support flood in, including from nurses who hold up signs saying “Get well soon Boris”. AFP

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  APRIL: Mr Johnson is released from hospital to be reunited with his pregnant fiancée and declares the NHS saved his life. He releases a video clip name-checking a string of doctors and nurses who treated him. He says “things could have gone either way” during his week in hospital. He returns to Downing Street after recuperating at his official country residence Chequers. Colleagues claim he has “got his bounce back”. AFP

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  APRIL: From near death to nappy duty! In a rattling change of fortunes, Mr Johnson and his partner Carrie reveal the birth of their son. It is Carrie’s first child but thought to be Boris’s fifth child. Surprisingly, the PM has never confirmed exactly how many children he has through a series of relationships. The boy is named Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, in a tribute to their grandfathers and the doctors who treated the prime minister in hospital. Ms Symonds posts an image on Instagram of her and Wilfred.

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  JUNE: After intense pressure to relax social distancing rules amid warnings businesses cannot survive, Mr Johnson urges shoppers to return to the high street and “shop with confidence” to get beleaguered business back on track. He vows all pupils will be back in class by September. ‘I’m sure we can get it done”, he says as he puts together plans for children to be placed into classroom bubbles of 30 pupils with strict rules on moving around schools. Mr Johnson visits M&S clothing department and other retail outlets in Westfield Stratford. Getty Images

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  JUNE: Mr Johnson meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Downing Street, avoiding customary handshakes. Mr Macron is the first world leader to visit the UK since lockdown, as he marks the 80th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s famous rallying call to his countrymen from a London radio station. Getty Images

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  JULY: Mr Johnson warns that empty offices are killing town centres, and workers should start getting back to their desks. It is part of his mission to get Britain moving again after allowing restaurants and pubs to reopen. He is seen wearing a mask for the first time as he reveals new rules forcing shoppers to cover their faces in stores. He had been initially sceptical about the value of wearing face masks in public but now concedes they could be useful in reducing transmission. Getty Images

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  JULY: The public get their first real glimpse of Wilfred Johnson as he is cuddled by Carrie on a zoom call to thank University College Hospital staff who helped with the birth. The photos, released by Downing Street, show he has his daddy’s hair. Downing Street

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  JULY: Mr Johnson heads north to Scotland to praise the strength of the union within the UK. He rejects calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence. Mr Johnson holds crabs caught on the Carvela at Stromness Harbour in Stromness, Scotland. This month marks one year as UK Prime Minister. Getty Images

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  AUGUST: Mr Johnson lifts dumbbells on a visit to a gym in his Uxbridge constituency as part of the government’s anti-obesity campaign. He has lost more than a stone since falling ill earlier in the year and admits that his weight was a problem in fighting coronavirus. He also visits a school ahead of the new term to show that classrooms will not close if there is the need for a fresh lockdown. However, a fiasco over exam results for A-level and GCSE pupils mars the planning for a return to school. On a personal front, a camping trip to Scotland ends in a row after the farmer who owns the land said the PM didn’t have permission to pitch up there or light a campfire. Getty Images

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  SEPTEMBER: Brexit returns to the headlines once more, as Mr Johnson accuses the EU of trying to break up the UK as he defends controversial legislation that will overrule parts of his own Brexit deal. A minister admits it would break international law, leading to weeks of wrangling in the House of Commons over whether the new legislation would be pushed through. Mr Johnson eventually gets the measures passed despite a revolt among his own party. AFP

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  SEPTEMBER: Mr Johnson imposes a ‘rule of six’ restriction that limits the number of people who can meet up together. He warns that the rules are likely to be in place for months, hitting the Christmas period. He also announces plans for a ‘moonshot’ testing programme – 10 million tests a day by the new year – but is widely mocked after failures in earlier government testing efforts. Mr Johnson tours the laboratory at Oxford's Jenner Institute and meets scientists who are leading the COVID-19 vaccine research. Getty Images

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  SEPTEMBER: Boris slams the UK into reverse, announcing a new crackdown in a bid to stamp out a second Covid wave. He drops his back to work drive, toughens rules for pubs and restaurants and demands masks are worn more often. He raises the spectre of a total lockdown if new restrictions are not followed, but gets muddled over his own rules, failing to correctly explain them during a visit to the north east. The image of the befuddled PM is added to the gallery of PR stunts gone wrong which have dogged the colourful politician over the years. Getty Images

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  OCTOBER: The UK sees a string of local lockdowns as Mr Johnson tries to regain control of the second wave without forcing the entire country back into hibernation. But the PM faces accusations he does not have a plan to deal with the crisis as he weighs up the dual concerns of fighting the virus while reviving the economy. A news display features Mr Johnson as shoppers make their way along the streets of Manchester, one of the cities resisting being moved into the highest risk category.

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  OCTOBER: Sorting a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU moves back to the top of the agenda. But Mr Johnson declares the EU has not been serious about negotiations and is unwilling to give the Uk the same conditions as Canada, despite its 45-year partnership.

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  NOVEMBER: Mr Johnson attends the House of Commons remotely by video-link to update MPs on the Covid-19 pandemic, in a hybrid, socially distanced session at the House of Commons in London. AFP

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  NOVEMBER: Boris Johnson (left), wears a hair net and face covering to see the last minute quality testing of the 'fill and finish' stage of the manufacturing process of Covid-19 vaccines, in Wrexham, north Wales. AFP

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  DECEMBER: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to his official residence at 10 Downing Street after attending Prime Minister's Questions. EPA

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  DECEMBER: He tries his hand at cable splicing with instructor Colin Wilkinson (right) during a visit to the Openreach Learning and Development Training Centre in Bolton, northwest England. AFP

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  DECEMBER: Britain's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson attends a virtual press conference inside 10 Downing Street after a string of countries banned travellers and all but unaccompanied freight arriving from the UK, due to the rapid spread of a new, more-infectious coronavirus strain. Getty Images

Boris Johnson has said his personal recovery from the Covid-19 disease is driving efforts to ensure that the world is never again hit so hard by “a tiny pathogen” that has devastated society.

The British prime minister used an interview with The National to reveal how his personal experience is helping him rally international backing for his recovery plans - including universal access to any potential vaccine.

“I’m determined that the UK will drive forward the effort to find a vaccine, repair the global economy and prevent future health crises," Mr Johnson said.

“As a leader, that experience renewed my resolve to protect the public and our health system while ensuring that the economy stays afloat. It’s a difficult balancing act facing every government around the world today.”

Mr Johnson contracted the virus and was admitted to intensive care in March. On his release he admitted his fate had hung in the balance and paid tribute to the health care professionals who had looked after him.

That experience has informed his thinking ever since. With the country set to take leadership of the G7 and chair the global climate change conference COP26 in 2021, Mr Johnson believes London will play a pivotal role in how the recovery takes shape.

“I have set out a five-point plan to prevent future pandemics," he said. "It includes proposals like developing a worldwide network of zoonotic hubs to spot diseases before they leap from animals to humans, a pandemic early warning system and measures to reduce trade barriers on health-critical items.

“The UK will work with our international partners to put this plan into action. The basic functions of our societies have ground to a halt thanks to this tiny pathogen – we can’t allow that to happen again.”

The 56-year old, the first sitting British prime minister to be interviewed by The National, said he wanted to develop the links between the UK and its friends in the Arabian Gulf area.

“The UK’s partnerships with Gulf nations are incredibly important for our prosperity and security,” he said. “Some 175,000 British nationals live in the Gulf, and before Covid affected all our lives, one million Brits visited each year – to do business, forge relationships and enjoy some of that fabled sunshine.”

Mr Johnson looked ahead to next month's Riyadh G20 summit as a key moment for co-ordinated international efforts to repair the damage wrought by the virus.

“The priority for the UK is for the G20 to reach agreements on health, the economy and climate,” he said. “This includes global access to any coronavirus vaccine, debt financing for developing and middle-income countries, and tangible measures to tackle climate change.

“This should be underpinned by a continued commitment to free trade as the basis for a strong and sustainable recovery.”

He added that he saw the summit as a “as a key moment to address issues of global importance,” including how the world “drives a green economic recovery from coronavirus”.

With the pandemic forcing world leaders to take to their laptops for the summit – “Zoom conferences are never quite the same as meeting in person” - Mr Johnson believed it was still “a great opportunity for our hosts Saudi Arabia to showcase their vision for the future”.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking in No 10 Downing Street.

Turning to British foreign policy, Mr Johnson vowed that Britain would not be complacent in dealing with Iran following the expiry on Sunday of the UN arms embargo on the country.

Asked if he was worried Iran might obtain more sophisticated weapons from Russia and China, he stated that this would be unlikely. “Come the end of this month significant restrictions will remain on Iran’s ability to trade in arms, both from remaining UN restrictions and from its economic situation.”

Having served as Foreign Secretary at the time Donald Trump, the US president, ordered the withdrawal from the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran, Mr Johnson has been deeply involved in how to handle the deep divisions over the accord.

Some 175,000 British nationals live in the Gulf, and before Covid affected all our lives, one million Brits visited each year – to do business, forge relationships and enjoy some of that fabled sunshine

Britain remains committed to working with France, Germany and the US to find a “sustainable solution to Iranian weapons proliferation” following the failure to agree a new United Nations Security Council resolution on the embargo. Mr Johnson acknowledged the challenge that development posed for the region.

“I’ve voiced my concern on many occasions about the destabilising role Iran plays in the region. We’re working hard, including at the UN, to find a constructive solution to address the threat to security posed by the expiry of the arms embargo.”

He was unambiguous in responding to a question on whether Britain and the US would continue the strong defence relationship with the region in regards to ISIS and Iran. “Absolutely!” he replied. “Working together to tackle shared security challenges is a cornerstone of Britain’s relationship with many Gulf states. This partnership is vital for the safety and security of the UK and is something we want to continue to develop.”

He added that Britain stood alongside its Gulf partners “in condemning Iran’s destabilising behaviour,” and that Tehran faced a choice: “Ratchet up its approach and face growing isolation, or it can come in from cold and work with the international community.”

Turning to the recent agreement between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, Mr Johnson said he welcomed the Abraham Accords “as a positive step on the path to peace” by normalising relations. “Co-operation and dialogue must win out over hostility and division.”

He also hinted that there may be further announcements to come to increase engagement in the process that has led to stronger ties across the region. “We are exploring areas where the UK can work with all three countries to deepen that cooperation.”

Mr Johnson said he “strongly welcomed” the suspension of Israel's further annexation plans that came at the same time. “I hope that we see further progress, including a halt to settlement activity and a move by other states in the region to normalise relations,” he added.

Britain would also maintain its longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process. “We support a negotiated agreement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. This would be based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair settlement for refugees.”

He added that London would be willing to assist in discussions that would lead to the revival of direct negotiations. “Ultimately, there is no substitute for direct talks between the Palestinians and Israelis and we must back any effort to bring the two parties together. The UK stands ready to help facilitate meaningful dialogue in any way that we can.”

Recalling the UAE’s gift of 100 tonnes of protective equipment at the height of the spring Covid-19 crisis, Mr Johnson was cheered by this, calling it “a bright spot of cooperation and friendship” at a time when the virus was spreading rapidly.

Looking to the future recovery that he seeks to spearhead, he was saddened that “too often countries have operated on the principle of "every man for himself’”.

“As I said in my address to the UN General Assembly last month, Covid has been an extraordinary force for division. We’re all facing the same enemy, but nations have thrown up barriers when we should have been breaking them down.

An author and historian, Mr Johnson sees the task ahead as achievable if there is a spirt of united endeavour between countries. “If the world is to recover from this devastating pandemic, we will have to pull together,” he added.