Favorite in the race for Downing Street, Boris Johnson had a glimpse of the challenges ahead today, with the announcement by the finance minister who disagrees with his Brexit strategy: that he would be honored to resign if Johnson wins.
On Tuesday, Britons will know the name of Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May's successor, a position that appears to have been promised to Boris Johnson, the poll favorite among Conservative Party activists.
The main actor behind the Brexit victory in the June 23, 2016 referendum, the former mayor of London does not rule out leaving the EU without a deal with Brussels on October 31, when that historic split must take place, initially scheduled for March 29.
It is an unacceptable strategy for Finance Minister Philip Hammond, a "heavyweight" government official.
"Assuming Boris Johnson becomes prime minister, I understand that his terms of office would include accepting a no-deal exit (of the UK and the EU) on October 31, which I would never support," he told the BBC.
The finance minister also stressed that he was resigning before being asked to pack up and leave, or have his post de facto end with the dissolution of Theresa May's government.
"I'm sure I won't be fired because I'll resign before we get to that," he said.
"It is very important that the Prime Minister can have a finance minister who is very closely aligned politically, so I intend to tender my resignation to Theresa May before she goes to (Buckingham) Palace to tender her resignation (to Queen Elizabeth II)," he explained. he.
Even if it is not entirely improbable that Hammond will remain in office if Boris Johnson wins, his statement illustrates the resistance that is likely to greet Johnson as the new prime minister, but also the fears fueled in the United Kingdom by a "no-deal Brexit" - synonymous with the return of all customs and other formalities in relations with the EU.
Leaving the European bloc without an agreement would be a "humiliation", said Justice Minister David Gok, who announced today that he will resign if Boris Johnson wins.
Boris Johnson (55), former foreign minister, in the race for the head of the ruling Conservative Party and the position of prime minister that automatically comes with it, has Jeremy Hunt (52), his successor at the head of British diplomacy, as his opponent.
It is up to the 160.000 members of the Conservative Party to decide between the two. Voting will end tomorrow, Monday, and the result will be announced on Tuesday morning.
The winner, who will be declared the leader of the Conservative Party, will go to Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday, who will give him the mandate to form the government.
The future prime minister will then have the difficult task of doing what Theresa May failed to do: to deliver Brexit in a country deeply divided over it three years after the 2016 referendum.
This is evidenced by the tens of thousands of people who gathered on the streets of London on Saturday to say "Yes to Europe" and "No to Boris".
Above them floated a huge balloon with his image mocking his famous blond hair.
"He says anything, promises anything, and does what he wants," said protester Michael Fowler, wearing a French cap in the colors of the European flag.
The future head of government will have to face another hot issue: tensions in the Gulf and Iran's seizure of the Stena Impero, a British oil tanker.
A frivolous and controversial figure known for excesses and gaffes, Boris Johnson arouses deep enmity among opponents of Brexit, many of whom see his exit rally from the EU, held on the eve of the 2016 referendum, as nothing more than a means to satisfy his personal ambitions.
Facing Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt emphasizes his profile as a former entrepreneur and presents himself as a serious candidate, both of which are quite the opposite of his rival's personality.
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