Boris Johnson launched his premiership with a pledge to do a bold new Brexit deal with the European Union by October 31, rebuking “gloomsters” and the political class who he said had forgotten the people they should serve. Johnson took office on Wednesday, replacing Theresa May who stepped down having failed to deliver Brexit or implement many of the reforms she promised when taking office in 2016. He comes to power at a time of national crisis, promising Britain will leave the European Union at the end of October but with little sign that Brussels will bend to his demand to sweeten the terms of the country’s departure. “We are going to fulfill the repeated promises of parliament to the people and come out of the EU on October 31. No ifs or buts,” he said. “We will do a new deal, a better deal that will maximize the opportunities of Brexit while allowing us to develop a new and exciting partnership with the rest of Europe.” But in a 12-minute speech in front of the glossy black door to the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street, Johnson delivered a thrusting rebuke to those who have criticized his planned approach as light on detail and heavy on rhetoric. “The doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters – they are going to get it wrong again,” Johnson said, rocking up on the balls of his feet as he spoke. “The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts.” Despite Brussels’ refusal to renegotiate, Johnson wants to renegotiate a new deal with the EU, ditching large parts of the accord May struck with Brussels last year, which was rejected by parliament three times. But Johnson said he would take “personal responsibility” for delivering changes, not least to the most contentious part of the deal - the Irish backstop, which acts as an insurance policy to prevent border controls between EU member Ireland and British province Northern Ireland. “Never mind the backstop – the buck stops here,” he said. Casting aside his trademark clownish demeanor and rambling delivery, he followed a written script, setting out an ambitious agenda beyond Brexit - promising tax reform, a new social care system, and an economic stimulus package. “I will tell you something else about my job. It is to be Prime Minister of the whole United Kingdom and that means uniting our country, answering at last the plea of the forgotten people and the left-behind towns,” he said. Johnson delivered praise for his predecessor’s “fortitude and patience”, but also repeatedly promised a new, more decisive leadership style - a dig at what many critics saw as May’s sometimes ponderous and secretive approach to Brexit. “The time has come to act, to take decisions to give strong leadership and to change this country for the better,” Johnson said. In a final speech outside 10 Downing Street with husband Philip by her side, May said it had been "the greatest honor" to serve as Britains prime minister. And she said "I hope that every young girl who has seen a woman prime minister now knows for sure there are no limits to what they can achieve." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wishes Johnson much luck and success and is looking forward to "good cooperation and further deepening of our bilateral relations." Merkel said in a statement Wednesday that the relationship of Germany and Britain is "shaped by deep friendship and close partnership." She wrote "were connected by personal relations of people, economic ties between companies, our united engagement for a rule-based international order as well as our common European heritage."