Boris – Bluster or Business?

Published: July 2019 (5 Min Read)

His dream has come true. Boris Johnson is Prime Minister. That’s great for him, but what does it mean for us?

Parliament will be in Recess from Thursday this week until 3rd September, so he could focus on Brexit without being held to account by MPs during that period. For either a “Hard” or “Soft” Brexit he will have to do deals with the EU if we are to avoid the loss of trade, increased tariffs and new non-tariff barriers.

We also need deals with the EU so that we do not find ourselves at the mercy of the likes of Donald Trump and purveyors of chlorine-washed chicken. Boris and his advisers know this.

Aside from the all-pervasive Brexit depression, the UK needs a fillip in several areas: social care issues; infrastructure, whether it is 5G or railways; in-work poverty needs to be addressed; companies, for which read employers, need encouragement to be based in the UK even without the advantage they receive from Britain being in the EU; housing supply needs a revolution.

Johnson has made extravagant promises on these issues, and tax-cutting too. But will he deliver?

The financial cost would be enormous, but if Boris were to deliver on this it could provide a boost to morale, not only among the Tory faithful but also for everyone who is tired of politicians. It would also set in train measures to offset any further weakness which might arise from Brexit. The Conservative Party conference (29th September – 2nd October) would be ideal timing for such grandstanding ahead of the Brexit deadline.

Boris once said to Lynn Barber of The Observer, “I’m a bit of an optimist so……. I tend to think of a way of Sellotaping everything together and quietly finding a way through, if I can.”

He also said, “I like to have my cake and eat it.” We had better hope he can.