Prime Minister Johnson has suffered a sensitive defeat. In Lower House elections in a district in Wales, a seat from the Conservatives went to the Liberal Democrats. As a result, the Johnson coalition only has a majority of one seat.

The elections in Wales were necessary because a sitting Conservative member of parliament had resigned following a conviction for fraud.

Journalist Hieke Jippes said in the NOS Radio 1 News that the position on brexit voters has been brought to the Liberal Democrats.

“The other parties who were opposed to the Brexit have decided not to send candidates to let all remain votes go to the Liberal Democrats, so that they were more likely to win.”

Boris Johnson did not choose to go with the Brexit Party by Nigel Farage.

“If they did, there was a good chance that the result would have gone the other way,” thinks Jippes.

October 31st

Boris Johnson was chosen as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom last week. He wants the British to leave the European Union on 31 October, but an agreement on the Brexit is hampered by the election defeat.

According to Jippes, it is rumored that two members of the Conservatives are considering going over, because they absolutely do not want a brexit without replacement agreements with the EU.

That would mean that Johnson loses his majority and a possible vote of no confidence against him has a chance of success.

“The relationships are very different then. It could mean that new elections have to be held,” said Jippes. She points to a spicy detail: “If you look at the first date that is possible for new elections, then that is October 31, the day Britain leaves the EU.”