On Wednesday 24 July, the day after Boris Johnson was named head of the UK government, the European Parliament's Brexit Steering Group expressed its concern that the risk of the UK leaving without an agreement would increase.
“Recent statements, not least those made during the Conservative Party leadership campaign, have greatly increased the risk of a disorderly exit of the UK”, the group said in a statement. On 24 July, Boris Johnson enlisted the services of Dominic Cummings, the 2016 ‘Vote Leave’ campaign’s inflammatory dogmatist. Finance Minister Philip Hammond confirmed his departure from the government, opposing Boris Johnson's strategy on the threat of an exit without agreement.
The group, which met in the morning with EU negotiator Michel Barnier, wished “Mr Johnson well”, but reiterated that an orderly exit of the UK from the EU “is in the overwhelming interests of both parties”. However, this is “only possible if citizens' rights, the financial settlement and the backstop (for the island of Ireland) are guaranteed”, which is precisely what the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the British Government guarantees.
Echoing Michel Barnier, the steering group also said it was “open to consider changes to the Political Declaration, in particular if such changes provided for much greater detail and a more ambitious future EU-UK partnership”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)