Brexit's rearview window is fogged up by Newspeak

Voters rewarded Boris Boosterism. Can it last?

The May 6 elections in England showed something interesting. People want to be team-players. In a pandemic, they want to support their government, particularly when it has tried to do what it can to keep them safe. Accordingly, Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party gained approbation — and votes — because its government overcame its bad initial handling of the pandemic and moved to support small businesses, run a furlough scheme and roll out vaccines.

Whatever the eventual fallout of Brexit, Mr Johnson can, for now, bask in the people’s support. The rear view window is fogged up by Boris Newspeak.

Long-term consequences are a different matter. Consider the way things have gone.

After Brexit finally happened, Mr Johnson was forced to admit that new red tape for businesses was a “tragic reality” of leaving the European Union (EU). This, despite falsely insisting when his deal was struck that it included no trade barriers.

Even so, in the first week of Brexit proper — ie, the first week of Janu…