Boris Johnson claims ‘deep state’ Brexit plot – Reuters

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament on Monday that the Labor Party and the so-called « deep state » would try to join the European Union after leaving in September. Labor leader Keir Starmer called out Johnson’s comments « delusional ».

With a Conservative Party contest to replace Johnson currently in full swing, the beleaguered prime minister won a confidence vote in parliament on Monday, ensuring he will remain in office until his party names a successor in September. The vote was called by the government itself, in response to a Labor motion to censure Johnson.

« Some people will then say as I leave office that this is the end of Brexit…and the Leader of the Opposition and the Deep State will prevail in his plot to bring us back into alignment with the ‘EU as a prelude to our eventual return’, Johnson said before the vote.

« We on this side of the House will prove them wrong, won’t we? » » he continued, in a question addressed to Conservative MPs.

Popularized by former US President Donald Trump, the « deep state » is a phrase used to refer to the legions of government bureaucrats, intelligence officers and aides who, though unelected, work to shape policy. Trump has repeatedly accused those officials of working to thwart his agenda throughout his presidency.

Johnson named Starmer, the Scottish independence movement and the Liberal Democrats as actors in the supposed « deep state » conspiracy, but did not point the finger at the alleged culprits within the public service.

While Starmer campaigned in 2019 for a second referendum to overturn the 2016 vote to leave the EU, he has since flip-flopped on Brexit. If he called the result of the referendum a « catastrophic, » he promised earlier this month not to try to bring the UK back into the EU single market or customs union, and said he would « making Brexit work ».

Johnson was dubious. « Have no doubt that if he ever came to power with his hopeless coalition of Liberal Democrats and Scottish Nationalists, he would try to do so again in the blink of an eye, » he added. the prime minister said of Starmer and his failed attempts to « overturn the will of the people ».

« The illusion is endless » starmer replied « What a relief for the country that they finally managed to get him back. »

Only three candidates remain in the running to succeed Johnson, one of whom is eliminated after the penultimate round of voting ends on Wednesday. Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak is currently garnering the most votes, followed by Trade Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in second and third place respectively.

Once the list is narrowed down to two candidates, the roughly 150,000 members of the Conservative Party nationwide will take part in a postal vote to determine a winner.