Brexit – New British Prime Minister has only 30 days to get it done
Jeremy Hunt Vs Boris Johnson
Brexit – When the UK’s new prime minister takes over from Theresa May next Wednesday, he might immediately come to regret taking on this unenviable job. The new occupant of 10 Downing Street has only one task: To succeed where May failed and deliver Britain’s departure from the EU.
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, the men vying to replace her, both say that not only can they secure a brand new Brexit deal, but that they will also be able to convince enough lawmakers in the House of Commons to vote it through.Even on the face of it, it’s an improbable claim.
The latest Brexit deadline is October 31, which ostensibly gives a new British government just over three months to achieve what May failed to do in three years.But dig down into the detail, and the reality is that there’s even less time.
Take into account the parliamentary recess (lawmakers need vacations, too). Then add the three weeks or so that the House of Commons doesn’t sit in the fall to allow political parties to hold their annual conferences.
Throw in weekends, and that leaves about 30 days of parliamentary time to force through a vote on the deal and all of the associated legislation that’s required to get the UK out of the EU.
So how do the two leadership hopefuls plan to do better than May?Both men claim that they can get Brussels to change the deal struck by May with the EU, formally known as the Withdrawal Agreement. In order to win over the Brexiteer rebels in their own Conservative Party, this new deal would need to either scrap or change a controversial section of the agreement called the Irish border backstop.
Brexiteers claim that if London took a harder line and threatened to leave the EU without a deal, Brussles would be scared into backing down. But there is very little indication that the EU is in any mood to give a new prime minister any meaningful concessions.
Some are grasping straws from the words of Ursula von der Leyen, the incoming EU Commission President, who said that she would extend the Brexit deadline if there are “good reasons” for doing so. Brexit Party MEP Lance Foreman tweeted that this showed the EU was scared of a no-deal outcome and that it “strengthens our leverage in negotiations.”Maybe this is true, or maybe it’s wishful thinking.
The only certainty is that von der Leyen will not be in post until November 1, which eagle-eyed readers will notice is very much after October 31. Besides, it is not up to her. Any extension would have to be agreed by the other 27 member states of the European Union.If the EU refuses to make any changes then both men have said that they are prepared to leave without a deal — to the concern of people all over the political spectrum.
