This is no normal transition of power. It’s a hard Brexit coup | Martin Kettle

The rise of Boris Johnson marks an unprecendented partisan takeover by the radical wing of the Conservative party

The passing of Theresa May and the ascension of Boris Johnson may have appeared, to the casual observer, as a colourful but nevertheless essentially conventional piece of British political continuity. The public decencies, insofar as such words can ever be used in connection with Johnson, were in place. The dignified but hapless former prime minister departed to the echo of the now traditional round of applause from MPs. The outgoing leader’s car entered Buckingham Palace to the solemn lilt of Huw Edwards’s commentary as her successor waited in the wings to kiss hands. On the face of things, these were the familiar rituals of peaceful transition in British politics.

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