Get Brexit Done

Get Brexit Done was a central political slogan employed by the Conservative Party (UK) under the leadership of Boris Johnson during the 2019 United Kingdom general election. It functioned as a direct appeal to resolve the protracted political deadlock that had followed the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. The phrase encapsulated a promise to finalize the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union and move national focus to other domestic issues, proving highly effective in securing a decisive parliamentary majority.

Background and context

The slogan emerged from a period of intense political turmoil following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, where a majority voted to leave the European Union. The subsequent Brexit withdrawal agreement negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May was rejected three times by the House of Commons, leading to a political impasse. This period saw the rise of the Brexit Party, leadership challenges within the Conservative Party (UK), and significant debates over the Irish backstop. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 had legally set the exit date, but the inability to ratify a deal led to extensions requested from the European Council and ultimately to Theresa May's resignation. Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019, inheriting a hung Parliament of the United Kingdom and a nation deeply divided over issues like a second Brexit referendum.

Political campaign and slogan

Upon becoming leader, Boris Johnson made "Get Brexit Done" the unequivocal cornerstone of his platform, using it relentlessly during the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election and the subsequent general election campaign. The Conservative Campaign Headquarters orchestrated a disciplined messaging strategy, featuring the slogan on campaign buses, leaflets, and in high-profile media appearances. It was positioned in stark contrast to the stance of the Labour Party (UK), led by Jeremy Corbyn, which advocated for renegotiation and a second Brexit referendum. Key allies like Michael Gove and Dominic Cummings reinforced the message, arguing that only a majority House of Commons and honour the result of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.

Implementation and outcomes

Following the Conservative Party (UK)'s decisive victory in the 2019 United Kingdom general election, which yielded an 80-seat majority, the government moved swiftly to implement its pledge. The Brexit withdrawal agreement, now revised to replace the Irish backstop with the Northern Ireland Protocol, was passed by Parliament as the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020. The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on 31 January 2020, entering a Brexit transition period. The core slogan was thus fulfilled in terms of legal departure, though complex negotiations on the future relationship, culminating in the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, continued throughout 2020. The final implementation of new arrangements, including checks at borders like the Port of Dover, occurred after the transition period ended on 31 December 2020.

Public and political reception

The slogan received a polarized reception, mirroring the broader divisions over Brexit. It was praised by supporters and Brexit advocates as a clear, simple call to action that cut through parliamentary complexity. Figures like Nigel Farage and influential newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph endorsed its straightforward message. However, it was heavily criticized by opponents, including the Liberal Democrats (UK) and the Scottish National Party, who argued it was a misleading oversimplification of a deeply complex process. Commentators from the Financial Times and The Guardian often noted that "getting it done" merely marked the start of a new phase of negotiation. Polling by organizations like YouGov indicated its effectiveness in consolidating the Leave vote behind the Conservative Party (UK).

Impact on UK politics

The campaign and its successful outcome fundamentally reshaped the landscape of British politics. It delivered an unprecedented electoral victory for the Conservative Party (UK) in traditional Labour Party (UK) heartlands, the so-called "Red Wall". The defeat contributed to the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn and triggered a period of introspection for the Labour Party (UK). It also marginalized the Brexit Party, which subsequently disbanded. The mandate allowed Boris Johnson's government to pursue other policy agendas, though governance became increasingly defined by the management of post-Brexit relations, disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol, and constitutional tensions with the Scottish Government and the Senedd. The phrase itself entered the political lexicon as a definitive marker of the era.