Boris Johnson and David Davis, Britain’s freshly departed Brexiteer ministers, are a cautionary tale for anti-establishment politicians across Europe. The UK’s vote to quit the EU was hailed as the beginning of a continent-wide transformation, which would see national governments claim back control from the Brussels bureaucrats. Yet the failure of the now former foreign secretary and former Brexit secretary to devise a plan for how to actually do this is instructive. Both have now abandoned Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet and retreated to the comfort of like minds on parliament’s backbenches, perhaps to plot her removal or perhaps not. Who knows, maybe Johnson will finally satisfy his own vaunting ambition and usurp May, but it’s a long shot. Other political leaders should look at his parable: it’s far easier to shout abuse against the EU than to guide your country out of it. Much like tragic drama, the anti-elite revolts in places such as Greece, Italy and the UK are starting ...
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