Boris Johnson's ex-wife, Marina Wheeler, has suggested that her changing views on the European Union may have influenced the former prime minister's decision to lead the Brexit campaign. Wheeler, a prominent human rights lawyer, disclosed in Sir Anthony Seldon's book The Brexit Effect, serialised in The Independent, that she was a staunch EU supporter for most of their 27-year marriage. However, her perspective shifted dramatically upon discovering the 'unacceptable' power of European judges over UK law.
A Change of Heart
Wheeler wrote that her transformation from a lifelong EU enthusiast to a critic in the run-up to the 2016 referendum 'undoubtedly struck' Johnson, to whom she was married at the time. 'Perhaps he saw the shift in my view as a bellwether of wider opinion. In a sense, it was. The EU had changed,' she stated. The couple met at the European School in Brussels, married in 1993, and divorced in 2020.
Impact on Johnson's Decision
Johnson's decision to back Brexit came just four months before the vote, surprising many. It later emerged that he had written two essays—one for and one against leaving the EU—before making up his mind. Wheeler's account suggests her evolving stance may have convinced him that public opinion was turning against the EU.
Reflections on Brexit
Despite the turmoil Brexit caused, Wheeler maintains it was the right decision. 'Ten years on, I do not regret the decision. But the continuing division is dispiriting. We are still in our silos, wedded to outdated thinking, resentful and too timid to make the changes we need,' she wrote. Her support for the EU waned as 'EU decision-making grew (and) national politics shrank', and she was 'aghast' to learn of the European Court of Justice's power over UK justice, describing it as 'a dramatic loss of national control'.
Future Relations
Wheeler emphasised the importance of 'strong close relations between the UK and continental Europe' but dismissed the idea of rejoining the EU. 'Talk of 'rejoining' the EU is not a fruitful way to move forward,' she argued. She also called on Brussels to 'stop punishing the UK for leaving' and urged both sides to seek a constructive path forward.
The serialisation is part of The Independent's Europe: The Way Back campaign, which explores how Britain can rebuild its relationship with Europe through news, analysis, and live events.
