[PietdeVries]

And so it begins...

If a Brexit-fanatic like Boris somehow gets hold of the UK, and Trump does the same in the US, we'll be looking back at "those good old days prior to June 2016" in no time... The world-economy will get more introvert, like the "me first" kids at school who don't care about the rest. And that will be the fuel of the upcoming unrest in the rest of the world...

[simonbarker87]

I really don't think Boris cared one way of the other (Remain/Leave), he just saw a way to position himself for PM and took it.

[Ntrails]

Given that he's been writing against the EU for 15 years or more, that's pretty unlikely.

[zimpenfish]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2012/dec/04/boris-j...

> He said that in such a referendum he would campaign for Britain to stay in. As a journalist in Brussels, he "migrated from being quite enthusiastic about Europe to being really very sceptical". But whenever he considered the prospect of Britain leaving, he always came down "narrowly" in favour of Britain staying in.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-...

> Boris has turned his back on his long-held belief in the peace and prosperity the EU has brought but it’s hardly surprising, given that just months ago he was still telling friends he is not an Outer.

etc.etc.etc. He's a political opportunist who follows whichever wind will get him most power. Much like Cameron except that backfired spectacularly.

[Ntrails]

I think the former is a fairly accurate description of his position. I remember as a teenager reading his articles from Brussels and the slow slide into the ever more ridiculous facets of the political sphere there, and his frustration with a lot of what he saw.

Thinking in 2012 that the EU is marginally better than the alternative is not exactly incongruous with changing your mind - especially given the past 4 years of the Euro project?

Most importantly, prior to Cameron "renegotiating", Boris took a position of not saying out until he saw the final deal. Again, this is not unreasonable. He was not an Outer - just waiting to see whether Cameron would deliver what he promised (and he didn't).

I have seen people try to spin Boris as just an opportunist but I'm not sold. His ~non fiction~ book about Churchill is not something I'm taking as a primary source on his views...

[ajuc]

There's already unrest in the world. It all feels like 1930s since a few years :/

[p51ngh]

You must be a really old chap.

[ajuc]

Like I imagine it felt in 1930s.

[arethuza]

I can see Farage in the cabinet within the next year - maybe he will fold up UKIP as its job is done and join the right wing of the conservatives.

[keithpeter]

There are a lot of trad labour voters who are interested in the UKIP message (or what they perceive it to be). Good mileage for splitting what is left of Labour vote in marginals in next election.