A divided kingdom

[Balance of Power]( From [Bloomberg Politics]( [FOLLOW US [Facebook Share]]( [Twitter Share]( [SUBSCRIBE [Subscribe]](  Far from the [arcane drama at Westminster](, warning signs are flashing that Boris Johnson’s path to leaving the European Union carries peril for the integrity of the U.K. itself. The prime minister won a fleeting victory in Parliament last night when MPs indicated their support for his renegotiated Brexit deal, only to balk at fast-tracking it into law. But Northern Ireland’s [unionists are outraged]( at the deal’s provisions for the province to be treated under a different set of customs rules from the rest of the U.K. The pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party [unanimously opposed the accord]( yesterday. They’re in rare agreement with the Irish nationalists of Sinn Fein: Both see it as weakening the union and edging Irish reunification closer to reality. Prominent loyalist [Jamie Bryson]( forecast “an organic explosion of anger” if Johnson’s deal is passed. In Scotland, where a majority voted in 2016 to remain in the EU, the nationalist government is angry at not being awarded the same tailor-made customs arrangement as Northern Ireland. It is redoubling calls for a second referendum on independence. Johnson will push for an election to try to break the deadlock in Parliament — and the momentum is with him. He may yet win his Brexit, but the price may be losing the union. — [Alan Crawford]( Photographer: Hughes, Kenneth Global Headlines [Strained loyalty]( | Donald Trump’s self-inflicted crises are testing the Republican senators the president will be counting on in an impeachment trial that lawmakers in both parties now see as all but inevitable. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took the rare step yesterday of criticizing Trump by name (for his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from northern Syria) and called the president’s description of House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry [as a lynching]( “an unfortunate choice of words.” - [Read about how]( the acting U.S. envoy to Ukraine’s explosive [testimony]( to House investigators yesterday has damaged Trump’s defense and left Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in a tough spot. - Happening today: Impeachment investigators will hear from Laura Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary of defense. [Competing for influence]( | Fresh from striking [a Syria deal]( with Turkey, Russian President Vladimir Putin is turning his attention to the contest for geopolitical influence in Africa. He’s hosting leaders of more than 50 African states in Sochi today at Russia’s first summit with the continent. Moscow is trying to regain lost ground in Africa after the Soviet Union’s collapse, though it now trails far behind powers such as China. [Management change?]( | The Chinese government is considering a plan to replace Hong Kong’s embattled leader next year, a pro-establishment lawmaker said, in a potential strategy shift as demonstrations continue to rock the Asian financial center. Following through would be risky for President Xi Jinping’s Communist Party since there’s no guarantee it would do anything other than embolden the protesters demanding direct elections. [On the outs]( | Trump has been privately testing the idea of replacing his chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney. As [Saleha Mohsin]( and [Jennifer Jacobs]( report, Trump said to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in front of a roomful of staff about a month ago: You have such great ideas, why don’t you be my chief? He has made similar remarks about Chris Liddell, a deputy chief of staff, and asked advisers whether his counselor Kellyanne Conway would be good for the role. - Late last night, Trump responded on Twitter, saying, “Wrong, never even discussed this with Kellyanne Conway or Steve Mnuchin. Just more Fake News!” [Opposition meltdown]( | Policy splits between white and black leaders and months of infighting have left South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, on the brink of an implosion. As [Antony Sguazzin]( reports, that’s giving the ruling African National Congress breathing room as it attempts to recover its popularity following the scandal-ridden nine-year rule of Jacob Zuma. What to Watch - Mark Zuckerberg [plans to defend]( Facebook’s Libra project before a congressional panel, saying the cryptocurrency won’t be launched without approval from the U.S. government, even as the social-media giant’s Washington [lobbying strategy]( is faltering. - Chilean President Sebastian Pinera unveiled [a series of social measures]( designed to appease protesters who have brought major cities to a near standstill in the past five days. - Ethiopian authorities are probing missing funds a military contractor already accused of graft was meant to spend on [a showpiece Nile tributary dam]( that’s raised tensions with Egypt. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Nobel Peace Prize-winning Ethiopian premier Abiy Ahmed are due to [discuss the dispute]( while in Russia today. Tell us how we’re doing or what we’re missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net. [And finally]( ... Once known as “America’s toughest sheriff,” Joe Arpaio isn’t content with being first recipient of a criminal pardon from Trump — he wants his contempt of court conviction thrown out as well. Arpaio, who made a name for himself targeting Latinos in the Phoenix area with traffic stops based solely on the suspicion they were undocumented immigrants, will try to convince a federal appeals court today to throw out his original conviction. Two years ago a federal judge convicted Arpaio of criminal contempt of court for violating orders to stop the illegal traffic stops. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Bloomberg Politics newsletter Balance of Power. You can tell your friends to [sign up here](.  [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022