Boris won’t be bullied

IN any major political negotiation, both sides begin by talking tough. High horses are mounted, sabres rattled, red lines set. Compromises may be made later, but gambits must be resolute – and backed by the threat of walking away.

To her cost, Theresa May ignored these fundamental rules of engagement over Brexit. She began by saying no deal was better than a bad deal. But it soon became clear she didn’t mean it, which allowed Brussels to dictate terms.

To be fair, the calamitous 2017 election had left her without a majority, and unable to overcome the fifth column of a Remain-dominated Parliament.

Mr Johnson has no such handicap. And he is determined not to repeat his predecessor’s mistakes.

In a keynote speech today, he will leave Brussels in no doubt that Britain won’t be pushed around.

We will not stick to their regulations, we will not bend to the European Court and we will not sell out our fishing grounds.

Mr Johnson wants a full free trade agreement but if the EU won’t give it, we could yet impose tariffs and full customs checks on goods coming from Europe.

These are of course opening salvos. There may well be trade- offs further down the line. For it’s in no one’s interests for the talks to fail.

The EU is our biggest combined market, but they also desperately need our custom – just ask German car manufacturers, Irish farmers or French wine exporters. Mr Johnson showed considerable diplomatic skill in securing his withdrawal agreement when almost every pundit said it was impossible.

He proved himself open to conciliation and pragmatism.

But he is right to emphasise from the very start of this process that Britain is not some kind of supplicant, in thrall to EU power.

This is a negotiation between equals. Boris is showing he will not be bullied.