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What happens now Boris Johnson has won the UK general election?

Dec 13, 2019, 12:13 IST
  • Boris Johnson has won a huge majority in the UK general election, handing Labour a heavy defeat which has prompted leader Jeremy Corbyn to announce his resignation.
  • Johnson now needs to form a government, appoint new ministers, and prepare to bring his Brexit deal back to Parliament.
  • Now Members of Parliament will be summoned to parliament next week to take their new seats ahead of the Queen's Speech.
  • Johnson will then seek to push his Brexit deal through parliament in order to take Britain out of the EU.
  • Here's everything you need to know about the big political events to expect before Christmas.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Boris Johnson has won a huge majority in the UK general election after voters backed his pledge to "get Brexit done" and take Britain out of the EU by January.

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So what can we expect to happen over the coming days? Here's a guide to the big political events to look out for.

Friday, December 13: Johnson's Victory Speech

Johnson's first job will be to make a speech outside Downing Street on Friday morning.

These can be big moments for an incoming prime minister. Tony Blair's comments upon winning a landslide majority in 1997, that "a new dawn is breaking, is it not?" was the sort of defining moment which Johnson will seek to replicate in his own speech.

Monday, December 16: The Cabinet Reshuffle

Johnson's first big task will be to appoint a new Cabinet. Liberated by a large majority, the prime minister will be free to shape his top team exactly as he pleases without fear of upsetting one faction or another.

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A dramatic overhaul isn't likely immediately, however. His first priority will be to replace Nicky Morgan, the outgoing culture secretary. He will also need to appoint a new environment minister after Zac Goldsmith became one of the few Conservative MPs to lose his seat.

A bigger Cabinet reshuffle will likely come in January. The Department for Exiting the European Union is reportedly set to be folded into the trade department, while the Department for International Development could be folded into the Foreign Office.

Tuesday, December 17: MPs summoned to parliament

The House of Commons will officially return on December 17. The first order of business will be swearing in new speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who takes over the role from John Bercow.

Then, over the course of two days, new MPs from across the House will be sworn in and start moving into their new parliamentary offices.

Friday, December 19: Queen's Speech

The Queen's Speech is an elaborate ceremony to mark the beginning of a new session of parliament. It usually takes place in the House of Lords and is full of the sort of pomp, pageantry and tradition that draws viewers from around the world.

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Downing Street has confirmed that the state opening of parliament will take place on December 19, although they insist it will feature "reduced ceremonial elements."

That means there will be none of the crowns, robes, or carriages that feature in a typical state opening.

However, the Queen will still attend the event, and read out a speech written for her by ministers.

A Downing Street spokesman said in November: "Should this Prime Minister return, the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen's Speech will follow on Thursday, December 19.

"The state opening of Parliament will take place with reduced ceremonial elements, as was the case following the early general election in 2017.

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"This is due both to the early General Election and the proximity of the state opening to Christmas.

"If there is a change of Government following the election it is anticipated that the Queen's Speech would be in January on a more usual timetable, but this would be a matter for the incoming administration."

Friday, December 20: Brexit comes back to Parliament

Johnson has also pledged to reintroduce the Brexit Bill - which would ratify the deal he struck with the EU - as an "early Christmas present."

The prime minister is also expected to hold the first reading of his Brexit Bill immediately after the Queen's Speech - possibly as early as Friday.

This will only be the first step, however. Parliament would enter recess for its holidays afterwards and the legislation required to pass Brexit wouldn't be introduced until next year.

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