Brexit pangs
Brexit, once hailed as a grand natural experiment for economists to dissect the repercussions of leaving a low-friction trade environment, has proven messier than anticipated.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s brother Jo Johnson on Thursday announced his resignation as a member of Parliament and government minister, saying he is “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”.
Taking to Twitter, Jo said, “In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest — it’s an unresolvable tension and time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister”.
It’s been an honour to represent Orpington for 9 years & to serve as a minister under three PMs. In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest – it’s an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister. #overandout
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— Jo Johnson (@JoJohnsonUK) September 5, 2019
On Wednesday, Boris Johnson suffered a massive defeat in his parliamentary majority, ahead of a crucial vote sought by a group of MPs opposing his “no-deal” Brexit.
British lawmakers voted in favour of a bill to stop a no-deal Brexit at the end of October, a second heavy blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in two days.
In July this year, Boris, who succeeded Theresa May as Prime Minister, had a working majority of just one in the 650-member House of Commons, but even lost that as a party MP Philip Lee defected to the Liberal Democrats.
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