Boris Johnson's Brexit Deal: The Reality Behind the Hype

The debate surrounding Boris Johnson's Brexit deal has been intense, with many in the Remain camp expressing skepticism about the existence of a genuine plan. One year on from the vote, we now see the promised deal starting to take shape. However, it appears that Johnson's approach was not without its contradictions and compromises.

Was There Ever a Brexit Plan?

According to many from the Remain side, there wasn’t an actual plan for Brexit. Yet, 12 months on, we find ourselves reading about the trade deal that was promised. This frustration stems from the belief that a coherent strategy was lacking from the beginning.

Johnson has maintained that his plan was always to reach a deal, but it's clear that the terms of any deal he can secure are challenging for him to sell to those within his hard-line Brexit supporter base. The task now lies in how to present the deal in a manner that satisfies his extremist supporters, who are vital for his political survival.

The Core of the Issue

The vote of 2016 allowed Johnson not to negotiate a deal at any cost, simply to ensure the UK did not remain part of the EU. However, this stance may have been misguided, as the terms of any deal will inevitably impact his supporters. For example, some Brexiters, like Jacob Rees-Mogg, have publicly expressed their desire for cheap workforce solutions, which would be detrimental to minimum wage standards and safety regulations.

Implications for UK Regulations

Any deal will prevent the UK from lowering driving regulations and worker standards significantly. Under the terms proposed by the Brexiteers, workers could be paid as little as the origin country’s rate, which might be pennies an hour. These workers would be required to leave immediately if they lose their jobs, making it extremely difficult for UK citizens to compete.

The Flawed Strategy

The belief that Johnson could have his cake and eat it too is now seen as delusional. Johnson and his team apparently thought that if they kept demanding a deal with no surrender, the EU would eventually give in. However, the reality is that the EU and its member states have shown much greater resolve and are unwilling to compromise as Johnson hoped.

Johnson’s refusal to accept what the rest of the world sees as a reasonable deal has led to an increasingly surreal and intractable situation. By extending deadlines and doubling down on unrealistic demands, Johnson is trying to achieve an impossible outcome. This approach has clearly not yielded the results he anticipated, and now, he is sinking deeper into a state of delusion.

It's becoming increasingly clear that Johnson's strategy, based on his own hype and the gullibility of his supporters, has failed to deliver the cake and eat it scenario he initially envisioned. As reality sets in, the question remains: will he continue to cling to these impossible dreams or will he be forced to negotiate a more realistic deal?