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The incoming president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wrote to the prime minister last week, asking him to propose a British candidate or candidates for EU commissioner “rapidly, in the shortest time possible”.
Johnson’s spokesman said on Monday that the government would comply with the law. “The UK meets its legal obligations, and our officials remain in regular contact with the president-elect’s team,” the spokesman said.
That appeared to suggest that, as with the Benn act that obliged the prime minister to request a Brexit extension, Johnson would comply, albeit reluctantly and at the last minute.
In his first address to the House of Commons after becoming prime minister in July, Johnson told MPs that “under no circumstances” would he nominate a new commissioner – a promise aimed at signalling his determination to leave the EU on 31 October. He also promised to “unshackle” officials from EU meetings. [...]