Analysis
In his keynote address on 24 September 2019, Johnson pledged to deliver Brexit by 31 October and framed the deadline as a critical, ‘do‑or‑die’ situation for the country. The exact wording was: “We’re going to get Brexit done by 31 October – do or die.” This matches the statement in question. The speech was widely reported and the transcript is publicly available.
Background
The speech came amid intense parliamentary deadlock over the Brexit withdrawal agreement and growing pressure on the government to avoid another general election. Johnson’s promise was intended to signal a firm deadline to force Parliament’s hand and to reassure voters of decisive action. The 31 October target later became a focal point of political debate when the deadline passed without a deal.
Verdict summary
Boris Johnson did say at the 2019 Conservative Party Conference that he would get Brexit done by 31 October, calling it a “do‑or‑die” moment.