Boris Johnson became the British Prime Minister on July 22 this year after defeating Michael Gove. Michael Gove has said that a no deal Brexit is the most likely outcome with Boris as the Prime Minister.
Michael Gove has come out to say ‘no deal’ brexit is ‘inevitable’. He claims that it’s due to his Brexiteer status but also that he’s ‘unwilling’ to co-operate with the EU.
Michael Gove, who lost the Tory leadership battle to Boris Johnson, believes that with a hard-line Brexiteer as PM, a no deal Brexit is an ‘inevitability’. He claims this due to Boris Johnson’s seeming unwillingness to work with the EU to come to a deal that both parties are happy with.
One of the main areas of contention is the Irish border backstop. Which many see as necessary to prevent a hard border in Ireland. The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson has refused to meet EU leaders unless they scrap the Irish Backstop.
Why was Boris Johnson made PM if his policies are so contentious?
Boris was made PM due to his large experience as a Tory backbencher. He was also a pro-Brexit activist during the Brexit vote, unlike Theresa May who was a remainer.
So many pro-Brexit Tory politicians (or those whose constituencies are largely pro-Brexit) would have voted for him based on that factor. Johnson was up against Jeremy Hunt. Johnson defeated Hunt 92, 153 votes to 46,656 (Source Conservative Party).
Who else is against Boris Johnson?
Surprisingly, Nigel Farage and his Brexit Party are actually against Boris. This seems to be more due to political reasons- with Farage running the new Brexit Party rather than ideological differences.
Jeremy Corbyn is obviously against Boris Johnson. This is obviously due to differing political ideologies- Johnson is Conservative, Corbyn is Labour. Although the Guardian also reported that Corbyn has claimed he ‘Is ready to face Boris in a general election.’
Is Boris able to force through a No-Deal Brexit?
In theory, yes he is able to do so. He (and the Conservative Party) have claimed that regardless of the deal, Britain will leave the EU on the 31st of October. Last Wednesday, Boris told the press that ‘the country need to prepare for a no-deal Brexit’.
However, Labour have claimed that if he does so, there will be a vote of no confidence in the Tory government. Which will definitely lead to a Labour win. And Labour being in government. And Corbyn as Prime Minister.