Don’t waste a second in galvanising Britain

IT’S taken three years, three prime ministers and a political earthquake to achieve it, but today the democratic will of the people has finally prevailed.

At 11 o’clock last night, the uK made a respectful departure from the European union, and reclaimed its status as a sovereign nation. We are in charge of our own destiny once again.

In some respects, this moment marks an ending. Certainly the stale leave/Remain arguments are now dead and buried (though perhaps not resting in peace just yet).

Messrs Juncker, Tusk, Verhofstadt and the other Brussels blowhards are already yesterday’s men.

The absurd ex-Speaker John Bercow is now peddling his prejudices on the lucrative dinner circuit rather than causing mayhem in the Commons.

And who can remember (or give a fig) what the Cooper/Boles amendment – once so controversial – even meant?

It feels about as relevant today as the Schleswig-Holstein question.

We have been through a deeply damaging period for the reputation of our democracy – one which has caused acrimony and division across society.

We must thank the lord that unedifying feud is coming to an end. From today, we can put the old wars behind us and look to the future together. For today also marks a new beginning. Important as Brexit is, it is not an end in itself. It is the springboard from which to create a better, freer Britain – where ordinary families in every region of the country are valued and given a real stake in the future.

For the first time since the Blair years, we have a Government with a huge majority.

Instead of being hamstrung by a malign affiliation of opposition parties interested only in wrecking, and misguided rebels on their own side who placed personal vanity above the wishes of their constituents, Boris Johnson and his ministers can actually get things done.

But with that power comes an onerous responsibility.

Mr Johnson has promised to level up the regions, fix the broken care system, renew our ailing infrastructure, tackle violent crime, build more homes and create a new generation of hospitals.

The rhetoric is strong, but these are all massive undertakings.

Should he fail to live up to his promises, there is no one left to blame. not the vicissitudes of a hung Parliament, not the stultifying regulation of the Eu – only himself. Taking back control means taking full responsibility.

But Mr Johnson is a far more skilled politician than his critics give him credit for. As he showed when london mayor, with bus expansion, Boris bikes and the 2012 olympics, he is a man who loves the big, bold enterprise.

In allowing Huawei to help build the 5G mobile network, he faced down considerable opposition and security concerns to keep the project on track.

With the final decision on HS2 due next week, the indications are that he will do the same there.

of course there are objections and risks with both schemes. But not proceeding with either could have been seen as pusillanimous – not a good look so soon into his term of office.

In his keynote speech last night, Mr Johnson said we have arrived at ‘a moment of real national renewal and change.’

To his great credit, he has ‘got Brexit done’. His task now is to reunite this country and equip it for the challenges ahead – as he puts it, ‘make better the lives of everyone in every corner of our united Kingdom’.

The Mail, and our readers, expect him to deliver that transformation. If he falters, it is our mission to hold him to account.