Boris johnson does not bring stability

Boris johnson does not bring stability

Eurosceptic Boris Johnson has won the Conservative Party polls, defeating his closest rival by a 2:1 margin, to succeed Theresa May as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Johnson will assume office at a time when the UK is in the midst of its most complex political crisis since the end of World War 2, a crisis to which Johnson contributed as the public face of Brexit. The new Conservative Party leader has promised to exit the European Union with or without a deal by October 31 deadline. With just about 100 days to deliver his promise of a do-ordie Brexit, Johnson is unlikely to have an easy ride.

At the top of Johnson’s Brexit agenda is the ‘Irish backstop’, a protocol designed to preclude a hard border with checkpoints and security guards between the Republic of Ireland, a part of the EU, and Northern Ireland, a part of the UK that wants to exit the EU. The EU has said it will not renegotiate the deal it worked out with Theresa May. But pushing through a deal through Parliament may prove to be difficult. This would give the anti-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland supporting the Tories additional bargaining strength. Besides which, Johnson is already facing internal revolt with key cabinet ministers including Chancellor Philip Hammond resigning and others itching to show him his place.

Rebels in the party have declined to rule out voting against the government to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Johnson will also have to deal with an economy on the brink of recession — weakened by Brexit uncertainty and slowing demand internationally and the currency sliding with Johnson’s victory fuelling Brexit anxiety. The government could fall and pave the way for fresh elections, which could well serve as yet another referendum on Brexit, even if of an indirect kind.