The Bolshevik motto, “the worse the better”, is sadly the best way to greet Boris Johnson’s arrival in Downing Street. Things are going to get worse, possibly much worse. But then there is every chance that they will get better.
The new prime minister‘s hardline appointments mean he is heading for a clash with both the EU and sensible Tory MPs. An election or a new referendum is looming – with the choice in both cases being between no deal and no Brexit. Pro-Europeans are not guaranteed to win such electoral contests, but we have a good chance to do so.
Johnson started off the day by making Dominic Cummings one of his two top aides. The former Vote Leave mastermind who was found in contempt of Parliament earlier this year for refusing to answer its questions about the conduct of the last referendum. Hardly a good way to win friends and influence MPs.
The new prime minister continued by giving top Cabinet positions to a string of hardline Brexiters. Dominic Raab is foreign secretary, Priti Patel home secretary and Andrea Leadsom business secretary. The list goes on and on.
Many pro-Europeans will throw up their hands in horror. But there is a big silver lining in the cloud. Johnson’s government is not likely to last, unless he does a massive U-turn and calls a new referendum.
Even before these appointments, his chances of getting a deal with the EU were slim. After them, they are tiny.
Johnson will go into battle with Brussels and swiftly receive a masterclass in why the EU is such a valuable entity. 27 countries working together have more power than one, even a proud one such as the UK. We need the EU more than it needs us. It’s not clever to pick a fight with somebody much bigger.
The new prime minister’s chance of persuading MPs to let him crash out of the EU without a deal was also pretty slim before his appointments. Sensible Tory MPs will view today as a bull views a red rag. More and more of them will be emboldened to do whatever it takes to stop him crashing out.
Johnson likes to summon up a can-do spirit. Pro-Europeans should, at least, take that leaf from his book. If we can put a man on the moon, we can certainly stop Brexit.
Correction: Andrea Leadsom is business secretary. The story briefly said she was trade secretary.