Boris Johnson, aka Al, aka BoJo, is best known for a frizzy, blond mop of hair, diplomatic gaffes, routine racist, sexist, and neocolonialist publications, and the promise to deliver Brexit by October 31: “do or die.” Today, he was elected leader of the Tory party, effectively making him the next Prime Minister after Theresa May’s resignation.
Critics often enjoy likening Johnson to Donald Trump, but as crystal-clear as the similarities may seem, this comparison is an unimaginative resource that leads nowhere. After all, both men are exactly where they want to be: unhinged and unapologetically heading their countries’ governments.
@borisjohnsonmp
Indeed, much like Trump, Johnson is known for racist remarks, nativist and protectionist stances, and unrealistic policies. And both men thrive in their like-mindedness. Johnson said Trump would be the perfect negotiator for Britain with the EU, while Trump openly endorsed Johnson’s bid for the premiership. But where Trump has been successful at rallying nationalist masses, Johnson has utterly failed.
He’s an elitist Oxford alum, prone to making jokes (like comparing Brexit to an undergarment that is too tight in some parts and dangerously loose in others), born in New York, raised in Brussels… he’s hardly a man of the people. As a journalist, he was fired from The London Times for making up a quote. As a politician, he was a flip-flopper. He famously wrote two columns for The Telegraph, one in which he supported Brexit, the other in which he went against it, undecided to publish one or the other.
That was until February 2016, when he was mayor of London, that he announced he would support the Leave campaign. From then on, he went on to lie publicly by falsely and repeatedly claiming during the 2016 EU referendum campaign that the UK handed 350 million pounds per week to the European Union, among many other things. Which brings us to this moment.
@borisjohnsonmp
After the June 2016 referendum and the stunning remainders defeat, as well as years of negotiations led by Theresa May and a staunch opposition to her deal by members of all Parliament parties, Boris Johnson has finally reached his zenith thanks to 90,000 members of the Conservative Party, which amounts to 0.2% of the entire UK electorate.
A lying, half-joke, half-convincing politician might actually put the UK in a worse position. The EU is well aware of Johnson’s theatrics and his incompetent tenure as foreign secretary. No wonder his electoral victory prompted immediate remarks by officials. Lithuanian health commissioner Vytnenis Andruikaitis, described Johnson as having: “unrealistic promises, ignoring economic rationales and rational decisions.” Forced to make a choice between do or die, for the EU it’s a no-brainer: di
Which is why fears of a No-deal Brexit are higher than ever, with Johnson repeatedly having said that the UK will leave the European Union, even if it’s without a deal. Johnson, however, inherits May’s scenario: a deal thrice rejected by Parliament, and a European Union prepared to make an example out of the United Kingdom, lest other EU members decide to trigger article 50. It took May years of negotiations to strike up a deal with the EU. Therefore, it’s terribly optimistic to think Johnson will be able to come up with a deal of his own by Halloween.
@jazz_stuffJohnson seems to be willing to face a No-deal Brexit, but Parliament does not, which is why they might request Johnson to ask Brussels for an extension, raising alarms as to whether Johnson might seek to circumvent Parliament by suspending it, a tactic that would involve the Queen and could be self-defeating. A No-deal Brexit would bring, many experts agree, a catastrophe for Britain, likely including broken supply chains, slowed economic growth, chaos, and not a single pence of the 350 million pounds a week Johnson advertised. The Conservatives, themselves deeply divided, do not hold the majority in Parliament and within this context, so a minor rebellion within the Tory party will launch the UK to new elections.
@yeimagesBrexit has even raised questions about the United Kingdom, itself. Will this rekindle the question of an independent Scotland? Will it rekindle an old grudge over a united Ireland? Much of why May’s deal was voted down in the first place was because it involved a provisions “backstop” that would prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. None of the Leave campaigners seem to have worried too much about that at the time, and look where it has gotten them.
No wonder why, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said months ago that there was a “special place in hell” for “those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely.” Congratulations, Boris. Welcome to hell.
Read more:
The World Has Spoken: The Most Admired Woman Is None Other Than Michelle Obama
That’s Enough, JK Rowling! Stop Trying To Make Harry Potter More Inclusive
Who Are The 2020 Democratic Candidates About To Face Off At The Debate?
