UK PM Johnson tells ministers: we are all committed to leaving EU by October 31

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid (centre) and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Amber Rudd with Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) as he holds his first Cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain July 25, 2019.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his new top team of ministers on Thursday they had a momentous task ahead and were committed to delivering Brexit by Oct. 31.

Johnson, who officially took over from Theresa May on Wednesday and swiftly sacked most of her ministerial team, held the first meeting of his new cabinet of ministers on Thursday.

“We have a momentous task ahead of us. At a pivotal moment in our country’s history we are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on October 31 or indeed earlier, no ifs, no buts,” he said at the start of the meeting, television footage showed.