Not much was surprising yesterday. The vote against May’s Brexit deal was a little larger than expected but only because none of the well-known number of Tories opposed to it and her leadership chose to abstain.
Corbyn’s opportunistic call for a no confidence vote was also no surprise.
The EU has also been clear that they won’t amend the Withdrawal Agreement in the face of such a defeat for the Government.
In response to all these familiar positions there was little change in the stance of the Labour or Conservative front benches. No wonder the public despair of politicians. No cross-party statesmanship from either May or Corbyn was on display to broker a compromise at a time of national crisis. We are drifting to disaster.
So the way forward?:
- Parliament should take control and May (still incredibly the only viable PM) should take instructions to look at amendments to the Withdrawal Agreement that could command a majority, such as staying within a customs union.
- The Government should probably ask for a delay in leaving the EU or even revoke Article 50 until a cross party solution of how to leave the EU can be found. Perilous for May but she now has little option.
- A new solution should then be put to Parliament and approved. If this can’t be done, a second ‘People’s Vote’ will be needed on the solution along with a decision to stay or leave the EU with no deal.
- If the Government won’t do this or the Opposition can’t compromise, time for a new leader (s). This will almost certainly bring the date of a General Election forward.
What a mess. The damage caused by Brexit is worse than even hardened Remainers predicted. The issue has split the country for a generation and most likely will speed our decline. Today, there are no silver linings to increasingly stormy clouds.
Inside Right Politics 