Why different Brexit tribes are playing the blame game as prospect of no-deal looms

Different factions are laying the groundwork to blame someone else if – and when – things fail to go to plan, writes Lizzy Buchan

Boris Johnson making his first Commons address as prime minister last month (EPA)

One of Boris Johnson‘s first acts as prime minister was to instal large countdown clocks in Downing Street and Conservative headquarters, to remind himself and others of the fast-approaching Brexit deadline.

With less than 70 days to go until 31 October, Downing Street is fixated on delivering Brexit, while pro-EU factions are working tirelessly to thwart the looming possibility of a no-deal departure.

But behind the scenes, each side is laying the groundwork to blame someone else if (or when) things fail to go to plan.

On the surface, Johnson is firm on his “do or die” pledge to leave the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal, which he believes is the only way to deliver Brexit and keep his party together.

The mantra is the prime minister is focused on securing a deal with Brussels, something Johnson confidently told journalists there was “bags of time” to achieve.

However, his refusal to compromise on the removal of the backstop – a key red line for the EU – has led to brinkmanship from both sides and the very real prospect of a no-deal Brexit in the autumn.

With this in mind, the prime minister now seems to be laying the groundwork for the inevitable fallout if he cannot get Brussels on side.

In a recent Facebook Q&A session, he attacked the “terrible collaboration” between no-deal rebels and the EU, saying the so-called rebel alliance of pro-EU MPs were destroying his efforts to secure a deal.

He said that the EU was “sticking with every letter, every comma of the withdrawal agreement, including the backstop, because they still think that Brexit can be blocked in parliament”.

This message enables Johnson to blame both MPs and European leaders for a failure to agree a deal, so the UK will be “forced to leave with a no-deal Brexit”.

Trips to Berlin and Paris this week made it clear that the prime minister is not the only one trying to shift the responsibility.

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Both Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel also said they wanted to get a Brexit deal but they maintain that the Irish backstop is a vital part of any agreement.

Merkel caused excitement when she appeared to give Johnson a 30-day deadline to find a replacement for the backstop – before later clarifying that it was only an example of how short a time was left.

What she was really doing was placing the responsibility firmly with Johnson, something Macron also did when he dismissed Brexit as a “British political problem”.

Meanwhile back in Westminster, pro-EU Tories are nervous about when they should act to thwart a no-deal Brexit, as they don’t want to be blamed for derailing Johnson’s efforts to get a deal.

Some Conservative rebels have rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s invitation to meet to discuss tactics on fighting no deal, as he pushes for opposition MPs to instal him in Downing Street as a caretaker prime minister if Johnson is ousted.

Labour intends to bring a no-confidence vote in the prime minister when parliament returns in September but it is unclear whether he can secure the numbers to get into No 10.

One ex-cabinet minister Tory rebel told The Sun: “Boris needs to be given a chance to get a new deal.

“Most Tories in the rebel alliance will be reluctant to be the obstruction to that by acting prematurely.”

With so much at stake, and so many unnatural alliances in place, it is unsurprising that everyone is nervous.

But when it comes to the prospect of a catastrophic no-deal Brexit, no amount of finger-pointing will absolve Johnson of blame.