European Research Group divisions over Boris Johnson’s Brexit tactics

With Boris Johnson currently refusing to meet with any EU leaders for Brexit talks unless they agree to abolish the ‘undemocratic’ backstop, speculation is rising that the UK is on course to leave the EU without a deal. However, should the new Prime Minister manage to silence his critics and win a concession from Brussels to replace the backstop with alternative arrangements, Johnson ought not expect all members of his party to celebrate.

In an interview with the Telegraph, arch-Brexiteer Marc Francois – one of 28 Tory MPs who refused to vote for May’s deal on any occasion – has said that even were the backstop to go from the withdrawal agreement, he and dozens of colleagues would still refuse to vote for it. Francois said that Johnson had assured members of the European Research Group ahead of his election that the withdrawal agreement was ‘dead’:

‘He was absolutely emphatic about it, so we took him at his word.