Now British PM, brash Boris Johnson faces Brexit conundrum

Boris Johnson took over as Britain’s prime minister on July 24, vowing to break impasse that defeated his predecessor by leing country out of European Union and silencing “ doubters, doomsters, gloomsters” who believe it can’t be done.

But brash Brexit champion faces same problems that flummoxed resa May during her three years in office: heing a government without a parliamentary majority and with most lawmakers opposed to leaving EU without a divorce deal.

Johnson has just 99 days to make good on his promise to deliver Brexit by October 31 after what he called “three years of unfounded self-doubt.”

He optimistically pledged to get “a new deal, a better deal” with EU than one secured by May, which was repeatedly rejected by Britain’s Parliament.

“ people who bet against Britain are going to lose ir shirts,” he said, standing outside shiny black door of 10 Downing St.

Trying to avoid political divisions that plagued May, Johnson swept out many of her ministers to make way for his own team, dominated by loyal Brexiteers. He appointed Sajid Javid to key role of Treasury chief, named staunch Brexit supporter Dominic Raab as foreign secretary and me Priti Patel new home secretary, or interior minister. Michael Gove, who ran 2016 campaign to leave EU alongside Johnson, also got a Cabinet job.

Over half of May’s Cabinet is gone, including ex-Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson’s defeated rival for Tory leership, who said he h turned down chance to stay in government in a different job.

In his first speech as prime minister, Johnson unleashed a scattershot spray of promises — from more police on streets to ending a ban on genetically modified crops to faster internet access.

To many critics of polarizing politician who find phrase “Prime Minister Boris Johnson” jarring, it was typical of a verbal vim that is t always wedded to hard facts .

For 55-year-old Johnson, walking into Downing Street residence was culmination of a life’s ambition. flamboyant, Latin-spouting former London mayor and foreign secretary helped le 2016 campaign to get Britain out of EU and is w darling of Brexit backers who feel frustrated that, three years later, country is still in bloc.

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Judging by his words on Wednesday, Johnson’s approach to EU will be a mix of charm and threats.

He vowed to keep relations with EU “as warm and as close and as affectionate as possible” and promised 3 million EU nationals in Britain “absolute certainty” that y can stay. May me same promise, but it still is t enshrined in law.

In next breath, Johnson said Britain might be forced to leave with deal if “Brussels refuses any furr to negotiate” — trying to pin blame for any future failure on bloc. That’s t an approach likely to win trust and confidence of EU leers.

EU is amant it will t renegotiate agreement struck with May on terms of Britain’s departure and framework of future relations. Without it, Britain faces a chaotic Brexit that ecomists warn would disrupt tre by imposing tariffs and customs checks between Britain and bloc, send value of pound plummeting and plunge U.K. into recession.

Chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said “we are rey to listen and to work with” Johnson, but he did t budge on bloc’s refusal to alter deal.

“A -deal Brexit will never be, never, choice of EU. But we are prepared,” he said in Brussels before Johnson spoke.

Johnson’s political opponents accused him of offering little more than hot air.

“Rhetoric and reality are two different things,” said Labour Party Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that Johnson’s speech was “rambling, blame-shifting and, to put it mildly, somewhat divorced from reality.”

July 24 carefully choreographed political drama unfolded with May attending weekly Prime Minister’s Questions period in House of Commons for last time. usually boisterous session was subdued, with Conservative colleagues praising May’s sense of duty and opposition leers offering best wishes.

As she left chamber, May received a standing ovation from Conservative lawmakers, many of whom helped bring her down by rejecting her Brexit deal.

Later, she stood in Downing Street alongside her husband Philip and said it h been “ greatest hor” to serve as prime minister. She n went to Buckingham Palace to tender her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.

Moments after her Jaguar left palace, Johnson swept in to see queen and be appointed 14th prime minister of her 67-year reign. Her first was Winston Churchill, who is idolized by Johnson.

re was a brief hiccup in smooth handover when Greenpeace climate-change protesters blocked Johnson’s car by forming a human chain on ro outside palace. y were quickly moved aside by his police escort. Later, hundreds of people demonstrated in central London against Johnson’s support for Brexit and past offensive remarks about Muslims, women and ors.

If he is to succeed, Johnson must win over many Britons opposed to Brexit and resistant to his blustering charisma.

In a sign he hopes to move beyond largely white, male and affluent Conservative members who chose him as ir leer, Johnson’s office said his government would be a “Cabinet for modern Britain” with more women and a record number of ministers from ethnic mirities.

His ministration is also set to include some pro-EU politicians, but most will be strong Brexit supporters. One of his senior visers is set to be Dominic Cummings, le strategist for 2016 referendum.

A contentious figure, Cummings was found to be in contempt of Parliament earlier this year for refusing to give evidence to a committee of lawmakers investigating “fake news.”

British lawmakers are due to start a six-week summer break on July 26. When y return in September, Johnson looks set for a fight with lawmakers, a majority of whom oppose leaving EU without a deal.

That has led to speculation he could call a snap election in hopes of gaining a majority in Parliament for his plans.

Political commentator Matw Parris, a former Conservative lawmaker, said Johnson was about to find out wher skills that have brought him to power would work in government.

“However far excitement, energy, positivity can take you ... y will take Boris Johnson that far,” he said. “But re is a limit.”

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