Forty-five Republican senators pledged support for Brexit in a letter congratulating Boris Johnson on becoming British prime minister.
The letter, published in The Sunday Times of London, affirmed the “special relationship,” a term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946, between the United States and the United Kingdom, and stated that the signatories would have “unwavering support” as the U.K. leaves the European Union.
“It is for your government to decide the terms of a Brexit deal with the EU. We will support whatever course Britain takes,” the senators wrote.
Johnson, a 55-year-old Conservative, took over as premier from Theresa May after she failed to negotiate a deal with Brussels to exit the European Union three years after voters gave Brexit the go-ahead. Johnson won the Conservative Party leadership after she stepped down. He staked his bid on a “do or die” campaign that promised an exit from the EU by the end of October, deal or not.
The senators wrote: “First, if Britain leaves the EU with no deal, we will work with our administration, your government and our friends in the EU to minimise disruptions in critical matters such as international air travel, financial transactions, and the shipment of medicine, food and other vital supplies.”
Referring to Churchill, they concluded: “We pledge our friendship in the future to the UK. Boris Johnson’s great predecessor once averred that the British people had the heart of a lion and he ‘had the luck to be called upon to give the roar’ during their finest hour.
“Johnson has our best wishes in the days ahead for every success in giving the roar for what we’re confident will be another very fine hour in the long history of your lion-hearted people.”
Eight Republican senators did not sign the letter: Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Richard Shelby of Alabama.
