About: Boris Johnson
Johnson and ‘no deal’ Brexit
Boris Johnson's large majority has not made him immune from the demands of the eurosceptic European Research Group in his party, argues Brendan Donnelly, warning that that makes a 'no deal' scenario more likely.
Boris Johnson is more focused on Brexit than coronavirus
Boris Johnson's obsession with obtaining a Brexit deal in June has over-ridden the need to act decisively in response to Coronavirus. But the signs of panic are emerging, writes Denis MacShane.
One-year EU trade deal is fantasy
Prime Minister Boris Johnson would do better to come clean with the electorate on the complexity of the task ahead of negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU, writes Michael Leigh.
Johnson is desperate for an election. So why would his Opponents give him one?
Boris Johnson is desperate to hold a general election, but why should opposition lawmakers give him a poll on his terms, asks Denis MacShane. Denis MacShane is the UK’s former Minister of Europe, and a former Labour MP. In politics...
Three lessons for Europe from the tragedy of Brexit
The sight of Boris Johnson's government 'going rogue' is a reminder that EU institutions offer citizens a place to go when domestic governments deny their rights, argues Roger Casale.
Ten aspects of the Johnson coup against the UK Parliament
Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament may have come as a shock to many but it has stripped away whatever remaining illusions there might have been that the Prime Minister was going to abide by British parliamentary traditions, writes Denis MacShane.
Tory leadership contenders are offering false promises on No Deal
Both Tory leadership contenders are pandering to the idea that a No Deal Brexit will not hurt Britain's future. But when the victor reaches No 10, he will get a shock, writes Dinesh Dhamija.
Brexit: are they insane?
Four individuals in the Cabinet Brexit sub-committee, namely Theresa May, Boris Johnson, David Davies and Liam Fox, are so trapped in their rhetoric about taking back control and regaining freedom, that if they changed their position, their political careers would be over, writes Michael Emerson.
Johnson and Davis isolated as key Brexit Tory MPs opt for pragmatism
On the eve of the second anniversary of the Brexit plebiscite, nothing but nothing is clear on what the UK government’s policy is, still less on what the official opposition’s policy is. All the enthusiasm for Brexit has disappeared from political life in Britain, writes Denis MacShane.
Two cheers for Balkan Boris
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has come in for plenty of criticism in his 19 months in post. But there is one area of foreign policy where he has been faultless and where indeed Britain can play a leading role in shaping Europe’s future direction of travel, explains Denis MacShane.
Tories sleepwalk towards soft Brexit
The UK government was deluded when it thought reaching a deal would be easy. It is deluded now in underestimating the concession it has made, writes Conor Quinn.
May and Corbyn now say yes to Europe – sort of
So now we know that the main party leaders in Britain would vote to stay in the EU if there was a second referendum - hence the growing attacks on the government from those in the Brexit camp, writes Denis MacShane.
Forget Russia, new menace in Western Balkans is Trump-style populist politics
A new menace is stalking the Western Balkans: the region's political leaders themselves. Many are now retreating from serious engagement with Europe in order to play internal political games, writes Denis MacShane.
The EU debate: So much more than a cost-benefit analysis
The debate over the value of the EU has deteriorated into a tedious cost-benefit analysis of the project. EU leaders and supporters need to transform the discussion and reframe their arguments so as to promote greater public understanding of its benefits, writes Cian McCarthy.
Sir Ivan Rogers leaves May’s small tent
Sir Ivan Rogers is not a Foreign Office smoothy, the kind of charming brilliant dip who used to live in the Rue Ducale and out-negotiate the Eurocrats with effortless ease, writes Denis MacShane, reflecting on the sudden departure of the UK's envoy to the EU.
Brexit: Labour calls to ‘look before you leap’
The UK's opposition Labour party is divided over Brexit, as unity is limited to supporting an increasingly unlikely vision of a soft Brexit, writes Geoffrey Harris.
The bold, the barmy and the mish-mash: Brexit after the party conferences
Mercifully, the party political conference season in Britain is over. We would not normally pay too much attention to the resolutions on EU policy passed by party rank and file delegates. But after Brexit it’s worth taking a closer look, writes Andrew Duff.
As Theresa May tries to buy Tory peace Brexit politics heats up
Theresa May’s has spent nearly every waking moment since leaving university thinking about her Conservative Party to which she has devoted all her life, writes Denis MaShane.
Boris Johnson is back and could prevent Brexit
The Brexit deal is likely to leave both ‘leavers’ and ‘remainers’ unsatisfied. But it is possible that Boris Johnson, the man who backed Brexit to advance his career, could switch sides again to save his own skin, writes Guy Edwards.
May’s ‘Three Musketeers’ to take on Europe and the world
Britain’s new Prime Minister, Theresa May, has wasted no time in telling Europe and the world that Britain wants to be somewhere else, writes Denis MacShane.
How can the Commission president be replaced?
Nicholas Whyte contends that in the event of a vacancy at the top of the European Commission, the EPP vice-presidents are well-placed to fill it.
Boris departure allows a rethink on Brexit
In English politics, we are witnessing the truth of Marx’s maxim that history repeats itself, first as tragedy then as farce, as the man who led the Brexit campaign in order to become prime minister now suddenly renounces his ambition, writes Denis MacShane.
What Brexit could mean for global trade
As the dust settles over the UK’s referendum, many are trying to second guess what it all means. Here Cecile Toubeau sizes up the possible repercussions for global trade policy.