- Here we go, here we go. (muffled group chattering)
- [Narrator] UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
fighting in a general election that he called for
as he doesn't have a majority in Parliament,
which he needs to be able to push through his Brexit agenda.
- I don't want an election in December,
and, under normal circumstances, nobody does.
We have to clear this parliamentary blockage.
- [Narrator] Johnson's bet is that calling an election
is the only way to end a three-year deadlock
and allow the UK to leave the EU by January 31st.
- It will be something that clears our arteries.
It will unblock our system, it will get us back on our feet.
- [Narrator] But calling an election is a big gamble,
one which, win or lose, could see him go down in history.
If he wins, he could become known as the prime minister
who finally took the UK out of the European Union,
but if he loses, his four-and-a-half-month tenure
would make him the shortest-serving prime minister
in almost two centuries. (pleasant electronic music)
(crowd applauding)
- [Boris] Good afternoon.
- [Narrator] Johnson has made other political bets
since he became prime minister, with mixed results.
Upon taking office in July,
he bet that he could get the EU to reopen negotiations
surrounding the withdrawal agreement
arranged by his predecessor, Theresa May.
- The withdrawal agreement is dead, it's gotta go,
but there is scope to do a new deal.
- [Narrator] Many said it couldn't be done.
- There will be no further interpretation
of the interpretations,
and no further assurances on the reassurances.
- [Narrator] But his bet paid off.
Europe agreed to renegotiate the terms
of its divorce deal with Britain.
- We have a deal.
- [Narrator] He also promised he'd deliver Brexit,
deal or no deal, do or die, by--
- October the 31st.
On October the 31st.
October the 31st.
On October the 31st, no ifs or buts.
- [Reporter] Can you make a promise today
to the British public that you will not go back to Brussels
and ask for another delay to Brexit?
- Yes, I can.
- [Reporter] And would you--
- I'd rather be dead in a ditch.
- [Narrator] But come October,
his plan was shot down by Parliament,
and he was forced to request an extension
to the Brexit deadline.
- Mr. Speaker, I must express my disappointment
that the House has again voted for delay.
- [Narrator] Johnson's make or break approach
has also cost him his majority in the House.
The prime minister threatened to expel
members of his own party who would vote against him
and in favor of a law to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
- Conservatives sitting on the back benches
that are prepared to put our national interest
before party interests
are going to be forced out their party!
- [Narrator] Johnson's plan backfired.
Despite his warnings, 21 members of his party
voted against him, and Johnson expelled them.
- I do not regret putting my job on the line
to save my constituents' jobs.
I do regret that the prime minister forced me to do it.
- [Narrator] So Johnson is now trying
to rebuild that majority.
- One of the most important reasons for voting conservative
and to help us to get a working majority
is that we can get Brexit done now.
- [Narrator] His campaign message?
Only once Britain leaves the EU
can it build new trade ties with countries like the U.S.
That's something his main rival,
the Labour Party's Jeremy Corbyn,
has been warning voters against,
saying Johnson's deal with the United States
would lead to the destruction
of the country's cherished public health service.
- You're gonna sell our National Health Service
out to the United States and big pharma.
- [Narrator] That's something Johnson has denied.
- This is an absolute invention.
- [Narrator] But even if Jeremy Corbyn has been trying
to steer the debate towards other issues,
and although a recent terrorist attack
has made security a major talking point in the campaign,
Brexit remains center stage.
The Labour Party is campaigning for a second referendum.
- Very clear, three months to negotiate,
six months for a referendum,
and that will bring that process to an end.
- [Narrator] And a cluster of small anti-Brexit parties
are unifying to fight against Conservative constituencies.
Johnson has his own allies,
like the smaller Euro-skeptic Brexit Party.
- The Brexit Party will not contest
the 317 seats the Conservatives won at the last election.
- [Narrator] For now, the odds seem in Johnson's favor.
He's leading in the polls,
but if the stakes for the prime minister are high,
they're even higher for the country.
The result of this election may shape British
and European politics for years to come.
(dramatic piano and orchestral music)