London, Jan 31 (AFP/APP): Even for a maverick politician like Boris Johnson, backing Brexit four years ago was a huge gamble. But as Britain prepares to leave the European Union on Friday, it has paid off spectacularly. The Conservative leader remains a divisive figure, hailed by many for his optimism and humour, accused by others of Trump-style populism and a blatant disregard for the truth. But his name will be written in the history books for leading the campaign for Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum, and then, as prime minister, finally making it happen. Negotiating a new trade deal with Brussels is likely to be an even greater challenge, but for now, the former London mayor is riding high. – Early ambition – For a man who as a child wanted to be “world king”, this moment of triumph has been a long time coming. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson was born in New York in 1964 into a high-achieving family. He spent his early years in Brussels, where his father worked for the EU, then attended the elite Eton school in England before studying classics at Oxford University. He first worked as a journalist for The Times, where … Continue reading Boris Johnson: Brexit champion who delivered