Pre-emptive no-deal Brexit strikes shows May's successor is in for a rough ride
Today's no-deal vote in Parliament shows that winning the race for Number 10 may prove to be the easy bit.
Thursday 18 July 2019 19:04, UK
MPs have launched a pre-emptive strike against Boris Johnson, showing the likely next prime minister he is in for as rough a ride in the Commons as his predecessor.
In practical terms, today's vote makes it harder for Parliament to be suspended to force through no-deal and creates breathing space to potentially block it altogether.
But the broader message it sends out is also important.
The rabble rousing from Mr Johnson about leaving the EU "do or die" on 31 October may be met with applause from the Tory faithful who currently look set to vote him into power, but it is not washing with all MPs.
Mr Johnson will still have to work with a tiny majority in the Commons.
Fewer than five Tory MPs voting against the government will cause a real headache for the next PM.
Many more than that today made it clear they are prepared to act, including plenty of sitting ministers who will soon be fully liberated from their jobs and able to vote how they wish, whenever they wish.
If Mr Johnson is to have more success getting his Brexit plans through the Commons, he will have to figure out how to get this rebel alliance on side.
In the end, winning the race for Number 10 may prove to be the easy bit.