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21 August 2019updated 07 Jun 2021 3:18pm

Boris Johnson declares war on the EU — and increases the chance of an election

By Patrick Maguire

Those still wondering whether Boris Johnson’s ascent to the office of prime minister would result in a change of style cannot have been left in any doubt by his expansive and at times rambling inaugural speech. Theresa May’s successor used his opening appearance on the steps of Downing Street to unveil a scattergun prospectus for his first 100 days in office, covering everything from school funding to animal welfare, via free ports, as well as launching an attack on “pessimists at home and abroad”

Yet as far as delivering Brexit — the defining mission of his premiership — is concerned there w