Daily Times

At last, Boris Johnson has achieved his life’s biggest goal of becoming Britain’s new prime minister, but it’s still not been at an ideal moment. He faces his self-created drama of Brexit, which has torn apart the Conservative Party as well the British society. Another crisis that may go from bad to worse is the seizure of Britain’s oil tanker by Iran, if his impulsive nature strikes. His choice of the cabinet has also beaten the observations of political pundits. In his maiden speech at Downing Street on Wednesday, he roared in his signature about Britain’s long-awaited divorce from the European Union before October 31, the much-trumpeted deadline. Mr Johnson is ready to pursue a hard Brexit by defeating “doubters, doomsters and gloomsters.” He did not mention who, in his book, are doubters, doomsters and gloomsters. Leaving something unsaid is his characteristic style.

Since the day he took oath as prime minister of one of the most powerful countries of Europe and the world, the whole world is observing Mr Johnson’s every move. His first action – the selection of the new cabinet – is shocking as well as surprising and amazing. The most surprising, and happy surprise for Pakistanis are the induction of Sajid Javid as chancellor of the exchequer. Mr Javid is the son of a Pakistani immigrant bus driver. Earlier, he served as the home secretary, also an important post. In the 2016 referendum, he was in the anti-leave camp. He has a great responsibility to steer the UK economy through the throes of Brexit. Several monetary institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, have predicted the collapse of Britain’s economy in the wake of Brexit. Mr Javid, who calls himself a eurosceptic, will have to extraordinary dexterity. Another minister is Dominic Raab, who once favoured proroguing parliament so that a no-deal exit goes smoothly.

Also, Mr Johnson presides over a polarised parliament now. Time and again, the party members have voted against the former minister on the exit issue. Some hardliners have repeated the threat to vote out Mr Johnson if the exit deadline is not honoured for a third time.

Mr Johnson faces tough times ahead. So far, he has been flying high taking the road of populist rhetoric. Now, he must calculate the risks of walking out of the European club. The UK is also in the centre of a Gulf storm, after it seized an Iranian tanker carrying an oil shipment to, allegedly, Syria. In a tit for tat, Iran also seized Britain’s oil tanker in the troubled Strait of Hormuz. This poses a test for Mr Johnson’s diplomatic skills. *