The benefits of Brexit touted by Johnson and other supporters - a chance to rip up onerous EU rules and create a more dynamic economy - have not yet materialized.

New customs and regulatory barriers are also hindering trade between Britain and the 27 EU nations. But the long divorce feels far from “done.” Relations with the EU have soured amid unresolved disputes over trade rules for Northern Ireland. He led the Conservatives to a huge election victory in 2019 and took Britain out of the EU the following year. When wrangling in Parliament over the departure terms brought down Prime Minister Theresa May three years later, Johnson succeeded her with a vow to “get Brexit done.” He had a popular appeal that no other campaigner could match. Johnson’s backing for the “leave” campaign in Britain’s 2016 referendum on EU membership was vital to its victory. “You can’t take that away from him - it’s just a question of whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing.” “The one certain thing you can say is that his legacy is Brexit,” said Steven Fielding, professor of political history at the University of Nottingham. He bears much of the credit, or blame, for Britain’s departure from the EU, a momentous decision whose consequences will play out for years. Johnson cultivated a buffoonish public image, but he has had a serious impact on his country. Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Matt Dunham Previous Next Debate about what mark he will leave on his party, his country and the world will linger long after he departs in September. The moving vans have already started arriving in Downing Street, as Britain's Conservative Party prepares to evict Johnson. FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves at the media as he leaves with his dog Dilyn after voting at a polling station in London, for local council elections, Thursday, May 5, 2022.

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