Boris Johnson resigns over May's Brexit Plan

[Lou2U]

The only reason May is still the PM is that the Remainers within the Tories retain a lot of power and they’re probably doing everything they can behind the scenes to prevent Boris Johnson or another Leaver from becoming PM. So we will continue to see the drama playing out.

Do you have a source for that? I’m seeing the opposite - a small group called the European Research Group, led by Rees-Mogg appear to be holding all the power. Just last week, May had to accept their amendments to the Chequers plan, which was voted through on a very narrow margin. As it is, the remainers/rebels in the Cabinet don’t have the people to hold the power.

A no deal outcome would be chaotic in the UK, but the overall effect could be worse on the EU on a number of fronts.

I disagree, massively. The UK is not prepared for a no deal outcome. The government is now planning to release information on stockpiling - food, medicines, etc. Businesses who rely on just-in-time systems will be moving themselves away to Europe. Businesses will be moving because there is nothing to tell them what is happening - indeed, Johnson said “F*** business” and refused to retract it. There is still no mention of what’s happening with services, which make up 80% of the UK’s economy. Not to mention aviation problems and the quality of our food.

the Ireland and Northern Ireland border will be a huge issue

I cannot overstate this enough. Brexit is about so much more than just trade, it’s also about keeping the country together. No-one wants a hard border between Ireland and NI, but there is no way to prevent one with Brexit. NI relies on Ireland for the majority of its power - there is absolutely no realistic plan to deal with this if there is a no deal Brexit. And let’s not forget Gibraltar, because certainly everyone else has.

What angers me the most about all of this is how it’s become party before country. Cameron promised to hold the referendum because some within his own party were making noises about it and he (in essence) wanted to shut them up. When the result was leave, he quit and May triggered Article 50 again to placate other Conservatives, without any kind of starting point of negotiations or having done any kind of impact plan. After she lost the election, all she’s been doing is playing the hard leavers and remainers in her Cabinet off against each other.

And whilst all this is happening, David Davis (former Brexit secretary) has only spent four hours with Barnier. Johnson makes statements such as “F*** business”. Rees Mogg has a company advising its clients to get their money out of the UK. There is no Opposition. Two prominent members of the Liberal Democrats missed an important vote that passed by three votes. The Chief Whip Julian Smith pressured MP’s to break Parliamentary convention in order for the government to pass what it wanted.

Quite frankly, the UK would be better off in the hands of a competent government, but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.