Boris Johnson has said the country is “aching to move on” from Brexit as he tried to shake off the rocky start to the Conservative Party’s election campaign.
The Prime Minister likened critics of his withdrawal deal to “candle-sellers” in the age of electricity as he officially fired the starting gun for the Tories ahead of the December 12 poll.
His official opening speech capped a turbulent 24 hours for the party, with minister Alun Cairns resigning in a row over the “sabotaging” a rape trial and Jacob Rees-Mogg facing calls to stand down over "insensitive" comments he made about victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
But flanked by Cabinet members, Mr Johnson spoke to cheers from hundreds of party members and activists at the NEC in the West Midlands on Wednesday night.
Standing up for the EU Withdrawal Agreement, he said: "I've heard some people in the last few days trying to attack our deal… I am reminded of candle-sellers at the dawn of the age of the electric light bulb, or sellers of typewriters on beholding their first laptop computer.
"They have a terrible sense they're about to lose their market,” he added, saying the deal "delivered" for all parts of the UK.
The PM’s speech was largely overshadowed by the announcement that Tom Watson was standing down as an MP and as Labour’s deputy leader, bringing to an end his fraught four years as Jeremy Corbyn's understudy.
It also followed Mr Cairns resigning as Welsh secretary after he was accused of "brazenly lying" about his knowledge of an allegation that a Tory candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.
Leader of the Commons Mr Rees-Mogg was earlier this week forced to apologise for suggesting that victims of the Grenfell Tower fire lacked “common sense” because they did not ignore the fire brigade’s “stay put” guidelines.
Mr Johnson said if elected, the Conservatives would "take back control" of the UK's laws and borders, with an Australian-based points system.
He said the party would invest in police, hospitals and education.
But turning again to the EU divorce agreement, he said: "This deal is ready to go."
To laughter, he added: "It's there, you just whack it in the microwave - it's there, it's ready to go, prick the lid, put him in.
"Then we can put this deal through Parliament and get on with all the fantastic projects in which this Government is engaged.
He added the Conservatives were "more trusted" with the economy, "because people can see that we understand how to pay for that whole society".
Attacking the Labour Party's economic credentials, he paraphrased Margaret Thatcher, saying "the Labour Party always runs out of other's people's money".
He criticised a "deranged plan" to spend "£196 billion" on a programme of re-nationalisation, claiming the proposals would be "ruinous" for the economy.
Slamming Mr Corbyn's position on Brexit, the Prime Minister added: "I don't think he knows himself.
"The only bit of flotsam of intelligence to emerge from the Bermuda Triangle of Labour's Brexit policy is they're preparing to do a new deal and then campaign against it six months later, with all the futility of those suicidal knights in Monty Python."
He said another referendum meant "more acrimony and division in our country, when this country is aching to move on".
Taking the stage before the Prime Minister, Home Secretary Priti Patel said the Conservative Party "would take its rightful place as the party of law and order, once again" and deliver "the people's priorities".
Earlier, party chairman James Cleverly said Mr Corbyn had been "running scared" of an election, because of Mr Johnson.
Half an hour before the Prime Minister's arrival, a handful of demonstrators turned up carrying Stand Up To Racism posters.
While being escorted out by security, some 20 protesters chanted "Boris Johnson, hear us say, refugees here to stay" and "no to austerity".
The chants turned to "Tory scum, out of Brum", as they were moved outside.
Inside, Conservative activists and party faithful wore T-shirts with slogans including "20,000 more police officers" and "Get Brexit Done".
Cabinet member Mr Cairns announced he was standing down over his links to a Conservative candidate accused of sabotaging a rape trial.
It capped a 24-hour period which also saw the Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg forced to apologise for insensitive comments about the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Praising Mr Johnson, retired college lecturer Gordon Donaldson, 72, from Stone, Staffordshire, said: "Compared to Mrs May, he's got great dynamism.
"We want it big, bold, because Boris does bang the drum."
Consultant engineer Tony Johnson, 71, said: "He's the best thing that's happened to the party in 15 years."
Afterwards, there was unrestrained delight at the Prime Minister's speech.
"I think in 2017, we ran a very formal Conservative Party campaign, and now we're running a campaign expecting to win," said David Smith, a Staffordshire county councillor.
