A gruesome cast lines up to oppose the Brexit deal

Look at the sorry cast so far; the DUP, Corbyn’s Labour Party, Boris Johnson, David Davis, Iain Duncan-Smith…the list goes on. And now Dominic Raab and Esther McVey. What happened to collective cabinet responsibility? None of them have really succeeded in their jobs or could be perceived ever to do so.

We will have weeks of grandstanding, tantrums and further resignations whilst the small issue of the country’s future hangs in the balance. But in reality will Theresa May prevail? The answer, if she gets through the next few days, is still probably.

And why? Because this deal is the best balance that can be achieved in the face of fierce fire from all sides.

Those at the heart of government know how serious a no-deal would be. It has been under-played to avoid seeming like another chapter in ‘project fear’ but the threats to supply lines, from industry to food and medicines, are very real, as is the damage which would be inflicted on the economy overall. The blasé dismissal of these threats by the hard Brexiteers is an abrogation of responsible government.

The deal that has been negotiated by the PM, as we currently understand it, buys sufficient time to allow those who support Brexit to deliver a clear plan with minimal disruption to the economy. Admittedly, there are hostages to fortune; but at this stage I would rather my captor was the EU than the sorry list of those above.

So what now? There could be more resignations and TM may be challenged for the Tory leadership. I trust she will decide to hold on but who could blame her if she said she has had enough!

If the Tories don’t implode in the next few days, the real battle will take place in the House of Commons. If the PM fails to get the deal through, she could resign or try again. A second failure would certainly lead to an interim Tory leader, a humiliating request to extend the EU departure date whilst there is a leadership election, and then a new Tory leader who would restart the clock. The least likely option is a General Election.  The Tories couldn’t stomach the possibility of losing.

However, the real pressure is now on Labour moderates in the face of Corbyn’s shameless approach to Brexit. Will they put the country’s future in the hands of sensible centre ground politicians, or the right and left-wing extremists on either side of them? The centre is where the electorate lies; it is where the country’s future lies. A General Election, or even a second referendum at some stage, will confirm this.

Meanwhile the time for compromise is over. It is time for ‘muscular moderation’ to reassert itself amongst the sorry mess called Brexit.