The UK’s new Prime Minister and the implications for Brexit

Boris Johnson has been appointed Prime Minister, following his election to be the new leader of the Conservative Party.

During the leadership campaign, while expressing his desire that the UK leave the EU with an agreement, Mr Johnson also repeatedly refused to rule out the UK leaving without a deal. This was repeated on entering Downing Street where the new Prime Minister reiterated that the UK will leave the EU on October 31, 3019, so ruling out any further extension of Article 50. He also maintained that a new agreement on the terms of the UK’s departure could be negotiated before that date.

The Prime Minister has frequently been critical of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, and in particular, the Irish backstop. However, the EU has so far maintained the Withdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation.

The uncertainty as to what will happen is exacerbated by the fact that the Government does not have a majority in Parliament and moreover, that Parliament has previously voted against the idea of leaving without a deal – although legally this remains the default option.

We will cover the key legal developments over the next few weeks and months at https://www.insidebrexitlaw.com/blog/.