Boris Johnson will thwart the Tory Remainer rebels if he slashes taxes

CUT OUR COSTS

WHAT is it about the simple concept of a vote that Remainers still cannot grasp?

For years after their Brexit defeat in 2016 many refused to accept they had lost fair and square.

Now, hours after forcing a no-confidence motion on Boris Johnson and losing that too, they insist he is a dead man walking and must resign anyway.

Some Tory rebels want a rerun within weeks, once they have changed the party’s rules for their convenience.

You may recall such sneaky tactics from the second referendum campaign which Keir Starmer shamefully championed.

The Remainers’ dejection yesterday — and the hysterical indignation of their TV media mates — was comical and predictable.

Thwarted again, so close to finally ousting Brexit Boris and installing, say, affable-but-insipid europhile Jeremy Hunt to steer us all back into the EU.

It remains their dream. Some MPs and campaigners brazenly say it out loud. Starmer himself wants to “negotiate a better deal” with Brussels.

How could it NOT involve surrendering powers hard-won by 17.4million voters six years ago?

There were Brexiteers too, of course, among the 148 rebels. To them, this was about Partygate and their fear that Boris has lost his allure.

Looming by-election defeats won’t help.

But we still believe he can revive his fortunes with far more urgent and direct action on the cost of living, our gravest crisis.

Families are buckling under soaring bills, a monstrous tax burden and fuel now at £2 a litre — a scandalous £110 a tank.

The tax-cutting, house-building blitz he is set to pledge is a decent start. But crowd-pleasing announcements mean nothing unless he rapidly makes them a reality.

He must issue direct orders now — and force ministers and intransigent civil servants to enact them.

And, like Maggie Thatcher 40 years ago, Boris must confront militant union thugs aiming to cripple Britain with three days of rail strikes — and leave the public in no doubt whose side he is on.

Monday’s vote gave him a last chance. He must use it. Cut our costs, Boris. Stand up for voters.

That’s what they want and need. And that, not birthday parties, is what in the end they will judge you on.

IN HIS DEFENCE

HOW the know-nothings sneered at the idea of President Zelensky rooting for Boris to stay in power.

Our Education Secretary was branded “loathsome” for even suggesting it. Then Boris survived — and Ukraine’s heroic leader said: “I am very happy. He is a true friend of Ukraine . . .  our ally.”

No, it’s not on its own a reason to keep Boris in No10. But only those blinded by prejudice refuse to credit him with leading the West’s robust defence of Ukraine. Ukrainians don’t doubt it.

Try to imagine them naming streets after Prime Minister Starmer.