We’re Getting an Idea of Boris Johnson’s Plan A: Deal, Then Election

(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson hasn’t given much information about his Brexit plans B, C or D, but his statement to Parliament on Thursday gives us an idea of his Plan A:

• Prepare Britain for No Deal. Posters, TV ads, roads widened and infrastructure installed. The message: “Britain Can Take It”
• Tell the EU it can either give way, or take its share of the economic hit from a no-deal split. Secure enough concessions to go back to Parliament
• Get the deal through Parliament. Britain leaves the EU. Can-do spirit and pluck have won the day
• Call an election. Probably around March 2020, because parties don’t like campaigning in the winter. Johnson needs a majority in Parliament to do any of the things he wants to do, and this would be his moment of maximum strength

That’s if everything goes well. If things go badly and he can’t get enough concessions to satisfy Parliament, the election might be sooner.

To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Thomas Penny

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