Crowing Remainiacs: Eurocrats back Tory plotters’ bid for ‘regime change’ at number 10… but will Brussels play over Northern Ireland for time?
- Eurocrats today supported the Tory plotters in their bid to oust Boris Johnson
- Prime Minister has repeatedly frustrated the EU since taking power in 2019
- They expect his replacement to seek a better relationship with Brussels
Eurocrats who have been fighting Britain for months Brexit supported the Tory plotters today in their attempt to evict Boris Johnson†
The prime minister has repeatedly frustrated the EU since taking power in 2019 over a series of high-profile rows over the hated Northern Ireland protocol, fishing rights and Covid vaccines.
Today, Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s Brexit enforcer, insisted there was “no legal and political justification” for rewriting trade rules for the province.
Last month, the Slovak diplomat launched legal action against the UK over the government’s attempt to ban most of them, alleging it violates international law and the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Sefcovic has warned that Brussels could spark a trade war if Britain follows through on its threat. But four leading EU sources last night said the series of ministerial resignations – and a possible leadership contest that topples Mr Johnson – could help mend ties with Downing Street.
Eurocrats who spent months battling Britain over Brexit today backed the Tory plotters in their bid to oust Boris Johnson
They expected a possible replacement British Prime Minister to seek better relations with Brussels.
An EU diplomat from a country traditionally close to Britain said: ‘It is difficult to see how progress can be made as long as he remains prime minister.
“But with a new Tory leader, those opportunities may well increase. At this point it’s about pursuing the lesser evil.’
Another even referred to the need for ‘regime change’ in London, a thinly veiled reference to calls from ex-No.10 aide Dominic Cummings to impeach the prime minister.
A third senior source said: ‘Given what is happening at Westminster, we can see that Boris won’t be around for long.’
A top official with close ties to French President Emmanuel Macron said Johnson’s move to revise Northern Ireland’s protocol meant he had “lost all respect and credibility”.
“We are awaiting his departure so we can resume a good relationship with the UK,” the source said, adding that Britain’s legislation to unilaterally nullify part of the Brexit deal had damaged confidence in the prime minister.
Both the UK and the EU agreed during the Brexit negotiations on the protocol that would impose new controls on goods moving the British mainland to Northern Ireland.
Britain has blamed the rules for serious trade disruptions and Eurocrats have refused to renegotiate the deal.
So the government has tried to change them without EU approval, with Unionist politicians fearing that the county’s place in the UK would be undermined.
The latest EU briefing war against the prime minister will raise suspicions that Brussels is playing time amid Tory’s power struggles before Britain makes concessions.
It came when former Tory minister and Arch-Remainer Anna Soubry said she wanted Labor to win the next general election, to be held by January 2025 at the latest.
“I want Keir Starmer in number 10,” Miss Soubry told Sky News. “At least he’s decent and honest, and he’s competent. I think that’s what the British people are crying out for.’
Alastair Campbell, the pro-Remain former spin doctor for Tony Blair, told Times Radio that Mr Johnson was “toasting” and had to resign.
“The fact is you are destroying yourself, you are destroying the Conservative Party, and worst of all you are doing really fundamental damage to the country,” Campbell said.