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Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, used the phrase "My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it" to describe a political approach that sought to maintain the benefits of European Union membership while exiting the bloc. The “cake theory” became a central rhetorical device during the Brexit process to suggest the UK could avoid the traditional trade-offs associated with leaving the EU.

The phrase refers to the idiom “having your cake and eating it too,” which describes a situation where someone wants two incompatible things at once. According to reporting from the Times of India, Johnson used this phrasing to frame the UK’s exit strategy as a way to secure sovereignty without sacrificing economic access to the European Single Market.

This approach was central to the “Global Britain” vision, where the UK would maintain a close trading relationship with Europe while simultaneously pursuing independent trade deals with the rest of the world.

The Role of Cake Theory in Brexit Strategy

The “cake theory” emerged as a way to manage the expectations of the British public and lawmakers during the complex negotiations following the 2016 referendum. The goal was to present Brexit not as a choice between isolation and integration, but as a third way that captured the advantages of both.

In practice, this meant attempting to secure “frictionless trade” with the EU—avoiding tariffs and customs checks—while ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and stopping the free movement of people. These goals were often viewed by EU negotiators as contradictory, as the Single Market is built on the principle of uniform rules and shared legal oversight.

By framing his policy as “pro having it and pro eating it,” Johnson attempted to signal that the UK would not accept a “lesser” version of prosperity. The rhetoric suggested that the UK’s economic power would allow it to dictate terms that bypassed the standard requirements of EU membership.

Political Implications and Public Reception

The use of such colloquialisms was a hallmark of Johnson’s communication style. While critics argued the “cake” analogy ignored the legal and economic realities of international trade, supporters saw it as a bold rejection of the “doom-mongering” associated with the Brexit transition.

The strategy faced significant hurdles during the negotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU maintained that the UK could not have full access to the Single Market without accepting its rules, a position that directly challenged the “have your cake and eat it” premise. This tension led to years of parliamentary deadlock and multiple attempts to pass a Brexit deal through the House of Commons.

Ultimately, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2020 established a new relationship that included zero tariffs and zero quotas on goods, but introduced new customs controls and regulatory checks. This outcome represented a departure from the frictionless ideal suggested by the cake theory.

Legacy of the Phrase in British Politics

The phrase has since become a shorthand for political optimism or a refusal to acknowledge trade-offs. It is frequently cited by analysts and historians as an example of how linguistic framing was used to maintain momentum for Brexit despite the technical complexities of the separation.

The “cake” metaphor highlights the gap between the political promise of a “win-win” scenario and the administrative reality of exiting a deeply integrated economic union. For Johnson, the phrase served as a tool to keep the pro-Brexit coalition united by promising a result that defied traditional economic logic.