ON October 2, as I was listening to Boris Johnson’s Tory conference speech on television I read a newspaper report that the Conservative group in the European Parliament has advertised for an intern to “nurture the relationship between the EU and the Conservative Party”.
The starting date is November 1, the day after, according to Boris Johnson, Britain leaves the EU and all its institutions including the European Parliament with its Conservative group automatically ceasing to exist as a result.
On the face of it, this looks a bit like Thomas Cook advertising for staff to start work the day after it ceases to trade.
More likely, it is part of the government’s real “no deal” preparations centred on requesting an extension of Britain’s EU membership if the government finds itself unable to finalise a deal.
This is the reality behind Boris Johnson’s conference bluster. “No ifs, no buts” as he himself would put it.
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