What happens now Boris Johnson has an overwhelming majority and mandate to FINALLY get Brexit done?

Boris may have allowed himself a brief moment or two of celebration behind closed doors in Downing Street this morning after his shattering election victory.

But the overwhelming amount of work ahead to deliver Brexit meant it was the shortest of political honeymoons.

His first appointment this morning was at Buckingham Palace, were he met the Queen and officially got approval to form the next Government. 

He will then returned to Downing Street to finalise his plan to get Brexit done by the end of January.

Parliament will restart with its new complement of MPs on Thursday next week with a truncated Queens Speech, allowing Mr Johnson to restart the process of passing the Withdrawal Act Bill before Christmas.

The WAB got as far as its second reading in October before MPs but a block on the Prime Minister’s plan to ram it home before the then October 31 deadline.  

With an overwhelming majority of Tory MPs who have all signed up to his deal behind him, he is certain to be allowed to get it through this time.

]It mans that barring any unforeseen catastrophe, the UK will leave the EU before the deadline at the end of January. 

Here is how the next week is likely to pan out:

Today

Here I go: Mr Johnson waves as he leaves No 10 to make the short journey across central London to the Queen’s London residence

A beaming Mr Johnson arrives at Buckingham Palace to see the Queen after his dramatic election success

A beaming Mr Johnson arrives at Buckingham Palace to see the Queen after his dramatic election success

 

Boris Johnson is due to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace at around 11am this morning to formally request to form a Government. 

It will be his second such visit to the monarch’s London residence this year. He made the same journey in July after being elected Conservative Leader in place of Theresa May.

Monday

Ministers believed to be under threat include Chancellor Sajid Javid, a former Remainer who has clashed with the PM over his plans to turn on the public spending taps

Ministers believed to be under threat include Chancellor Sajid Javid, a former Remainer who has clashed with the PM over his plans to turn on the public spending taps

Mr Johnson is expected to carry out a shuffle of his Cabinet ahead of Brexit. 

Ministers believed to be under threat include Chancellor Sajid Javid, a former Remainer who has clashed with the PM over his plans to turn on the public spending taps.

Also believed to be for the chop is Jacob Rees-Mogg. The posh Common Leader was banished to the country early in the election campaign after he made a massive gaffe. 

He blamed the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster for their own deaths in a radio interview and spent the rest of the campaign in his North East Somerset Seat.

Those tipped for promotion include Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak, who could replace his boss in No 11. 

Tuesday and Wednesday

MPs return to Parliament on Tuesday for the first day of term. They will spend two days setting up their private offices and being taught how the Westminster machine operates. 

For some it is a return to familiar territory, for others it is the first step on a brand new journey in politics at crucial time for the country.   

Thursday

It will the second State Opening of Parliament this year, after Mr Johnson dissolved Parliament in October, only to call an election early in November

It will the second State Opening of Parliament this year, after Mr Johnson dissolved Parliament in October, only to call an election early in November

The official reopening of the Commons with its new Tory majority takes place with the State Opening of Parliament.

It will the second such event this year, after Mr Johnson dissolved Parliament in October, only to call an election early in November. 

But there will be less of the usual pageantry of carriage processions and mounted soldiers in dress uniforms. 

Downing Street has previously said the state opening of Parliament would go ahead with ‘reduced ceremonial elements’ if the Tories win a majority in the vote a week earlier.

A No10 spokesman said last month: ‘Should this Prime Minister return, the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen’s Speech will follow on Thursday December 19.’

Friday

Boris Johnson waved for the waiting cameras as he walked into Downing Street with his partner Carrie Symonds today 

The PM has pledged to re-introduce the WAB  – which would ratify the deal he struck with Brussels – in December as an ‘early Christmas present’ for voters.

The bill got as far as its second reading in October but has to be reintroduced because there is a new parliament in place.

The prospect of MPs sitting on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day to push through the legislation has not been ruled out.

But more realistically what will happen is the first reading will start on Friday December 20, with the Government almost certain to win the vote. 

MPs are then likely to be given Christmas to examine the document before the remaining stages – second reading, committee and third reading – take place early in the new year.

One given Royal Assent thee would be several weeks in which to have the deal ratified by the European Parliament. It means Brexit would take place on January 31 – or potentially earlier.