America, Root for Boris Johnson Victory would mean better prospects for a trade deal and a more assertive role for Britain in world affairs. By Con Coughlin
https://www.wsj.com/articles/america-root-for-boris-johnson-11575837887?mod=opinion_lead_pos5
The outcome of Thursday’s British general election will have a profound bearing on the future of U.S.-U.K. relations. If Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins, Washington can look forward to a serious upgrade in its relations with London, not least because Mr. Johnson appears to enjoy a good personal accord with President Trump.
A victory for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose quasi-Marxist politics and visceral anti-Americanism have been very much in evidence during the election campaign, would create serious tensions in trans-Atlantic relations.
From Washington’s perspective, the most important consideration is the impact the election outcome will have on the fate of the Brexit negotiations. The Trump administration enthusiastically supports Britain’s plans to leave the European Union, as it means the U.K. would be able to negotiate new trade agreements with the U.S. without interference from the EU.
The protracted Brexit negotiations, which began after a 2016 referendum, have been seriously undermined by the previous Conservative government’s minority status in the House of Commons. Mr. Johnson’s first priority, therefore, is to seek a working majority, a feat not achieved by the Conservatives since former Prime Minister David Cameron secured a modest majority in the 2015 election. It soon disappeared after his successor, Theresa May, called an election in 2017. She expected to bolster her majority but lost it instead. That severely limited her ability to complete Brexit and cost her the premiership this summer. CONTINUE AT SITE
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