ANALYSIS: Boris Johnson is trying to ride two horses at once. At some point he’s going to fall off
3 min read
Nobody knows what Boris Johnson means when he says he can both obey the law and take the UK out of the EU without a deal, but at some point he will have to explain how they marry up.
The phrase “you can't have your cake and eat it too” is not unique to the UK, in fact almost every country has their own version, and which often offer an insight into their national character.
In Romania it is “you can't reconcile the goat and the cabbage”, in Italian “to want the barrel full and the wife drunk”, and the Danes say “you cannot both blow and have flour in your mouth”.
All of which could probably be used to describe the current Brexit strategy employed by the Prime Minister, though it is surely closest to the Hungarian version of the phrase: “It is impossible to ride two horses with one backside.”
Because for weeks now the Government has been operating from two seemingly contradictory positions as Britain edges nearer to the 31 October deadline.
In public statements and off-the-record briefings the PM, Cabinet ministers and Downing Street have been adamant the UK will leave the EU on Hallowe’en, with or without a deal.
But the Benn Act, derisively nicknamed the “Surrender Bill” by Mr Johnson, has seemingly outlawed that, by forcing him to write to Brussels demanding an extension if there is no agreement in place by 19 October.
And the Government has been clear it will abide by the law, down to the letter.
The most jarring example of this was on Monday morning, when the PM won a case at the Court of Session in Scotland thanks to his commitment, set out in legal documents, to upholding the Benn Act.
Judges in Edinburgh failed to back a case by campaigners pushing for sanctions if Mr Johnson does not obey the bill, pointing to the fact that the Government itself has confirmed he will ask the EU for a Brexit delay if compelled to.
But at the same time the PM’s official spokesman was telling reporters once again the UK would be leaving at the end of the month, whatever the circumstances.
In a briefing he went further, adding: “The Prime Minister has been clear throughout that we will obey the law. We are leaving on 31 October.
“The manner in which this policy is lawfully achieved is a matter for the Government.”
Pursuing two strategies; one for the cold hard legal world, and one for the public, political sphere, might make sense from a strategic point of view.
And perhaps there is some cunning ruse to follow the letter of the law and yet prevent delay, although it seems highly unlikely.
Or maybe it is the plan to say he won’t write to Brussels, be forced into it by the courts and fight an election on that issue.
But with just 10 days until the crunch EU summit, and 12 until he is lawfully bound to request an extension, Boris Johnson will have to choose one horse, or he risks falling off both.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
