UK prime minister gets a Brexit boost, but a big rival is waiting in the wings

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Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrives at Downing Street ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting on July 3, 2018 in London, England.

Since then, he has repeatedly criticized May’s Brexit plan, that seeks close regulatory alignment with the European Union after Brexit, calling it “deranged” earlier this week. Despite being out of the Cabinet, Johnson has remained one of the main figureheads calling for a “hard” Brexit and there is widespread speculation he’s waiting in the wings to become the next Conservative leader and prime minister.

Johnson refused to rule out whether he would launch a leadership bid when asked on the subject last week. However, he has laid the groundwork for a contest, setting out his alternative plans for Brexit in a 4,500-word essay published last week in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, in which he proposed a “Super Canada” free trade deal. Put simply, he advocated an enhanced free trade deal with the EU, like Canada has, with zero tariffs on goods and services.

Several key figures in the party have rebuffed his Brexit plan, however, and there are those that don’t want Johnson to steal the limelight.

“Inevitably, there’s always going to be people looking for the next generation, the next leader, and I think most of us are very, very clear that there’s not going to be a leadership contest any time soon,” pro-EU, Conservative lawmaker Nicky Morgan told CNBC on Tuesday. “It would be very damaging for the party,” she said.