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| Boris, Brexit and lessons from the Boer war | Boris, Brexit and lessons from the Boer war |
| (7 months later) | |
| Letters | |
| Thu 13 Jul 2017 18.33 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 15.36 GMT | |
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| Boris Johnson’s statement to parliament on Brexit should arouse disquiet: “There is no plan for no deal because we’re going to get a great deal” (Brussels can ‘go whistle’ over divorce bill from EU, says Johnson, 12 July). It is an attitude like that of Queen Victoria towards the Boer war: “We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist.” But the world has moved on since then. | Boris Johnson’s statement to parliament on Brexit should arouse disquiet: “There is no plan for no deal because we’re going to get a great deal” (Brussels can ‘go whistle’ over divorce bill from EU, says Johnson, 12 July). It is an attitude like that of Queen Victoria towards the Boer war: “We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist.” But the world has moved on since then. |
| Factors beyond this minority government’s control will influence Brexit, assuming it occurs before the Greek calends, as Mr Johnson would put it. The ill-effects of the approach to Brexit are making themselves felt. As they get worse it might be difficult, if not impossible, to persuade MPs of any party to commit themselves. | Factors beyond this minority government’s control will influence Brexit, assuming it occurs before the Greek calends, as Mr Johnson would put it. The ill-effects of the approach to Brexit are making themselves felt. As they get worse it might be difficult, if not impossible, to persuade MPs of any party to commit themselves. |
| Vince Cable is probably right in expecting the Liberal Democrats to emerge as the only beneficiaries of a situation in which Labour and Conservative MPs are dragooned into supporting a policy to which their conversion has been sudden and suspect – and which is likely to be disastrous if it is ever implemented. | Vince Cable is probably right in expecting the Liberal Democrats to emerge as the only beneficiaries of a situation in which Labour and Conservative MPs are dragooned into supporting a policy to which their conversion has been sudden and suspect – and which is likely to be disastrous if it is ever implemented. |
| Perhaps Mr Johnson could define “great deal” for us and say how he intends to obtain it. Meanwhile I suggest a plan B.Margaret BrownBurslem, Staffordshire | Perhaps Mr Johnson could define “great deal” for us and say how he intends to obtain it. Meanwhile I suggest a plan B.Margaret BrownBurslem, Staffordshire |
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| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Brexit | |
| Boris Johnson | |
| European Union | |
| Foreign policy | |
| Article 50 | |
| Vince Cable | |
| letters | |
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