May’s deal is the only path to Brexit
It’s time to swallow our pride and back an imperfect deal, or run the risk of the other ugly options coming to fruition.
Recent events in British politics have been sensational. Never have we seen such a capacity of grandstanding, bitter in-fighting and backroom deals. It seems the process of Brexit is a beast that changes each day, much to the dismay of the general public who look at our once great parliament with a sense of absolute anger and shame.
Those on the Remain side propagate that this was always to be the case, that Brexit could never have been a success. Those on the Leave side pin the blame both on the government and the EU for negotiations that were aimless, contrived and utterly humiliating.
There is a reasoned argument to be made regarding the Prime Minister’s lack of leadership throughout this painful and never ending process, however her deal is the only one on the table even remotely close to what those on the Leave side envisioned Brexit to be. To them accepting an extensive financial settlement, possible permanent entrenchment in the customs union and potential future rulings from the European court of Justice seemed infallible. However that was when Brexit still glowed with potential, when we had some vain hope of improving the deal or leaving without one and managing the impact thereafter. Circumstances have since changed.
Opposition MPs, coupled with Tory Remainers, now hold considerable sway as the government teeters on the brink of collapse. Indicative votes reveal some significant support for a soft brexit, that wouldn’t just run the risk of us being trapped in the customs union but actually guarantee it. Considering the article 50 extension, No Deal symbolically being taken off the table and MPs who care nothing for the result of the 2016 referendum – May’s Deal is the only option.
If we do not back it, we run the risk of not being able to leave at all or accepting a softer Brexit that would not heal the divides that rage within the heart of Britain over the issue of Europe.
The Prime Minister has pledged to give over the steering of the ship to someone new in the next stage of negotiations and somewhat questionable concessions were made on the issue of the backstop (which is much more than anyone expected from the uncompromising EU), and thus we see an emerging path appearing before us and it is one which will guarantee we legally leave and give us at least some future prospect of being self-governing, even if it comes with a plethora of rotten small print.
It’s time to swallow our pride and back an imperfect deal, or run the risk of the other ugly options coming to fruition. This is a message that must be taken to Leave MPs in the coming weeks if her deal is to have any hope of getting over the line. Like Brexit itself, the goal is ambitious. Her deal suffered the first and third largest defeats in Commons history, and movements from only some ERG MPs will do nothing to save her deal. Furthermore, the DUP will be hard to move and have signalled a preference for a further extension over backing the deal. This is foolhardy and dangerous.
A long extension guarantees no Brexit, a softer Brexit or another troublesome referendum. Either of which will deepen divides and increase anger. Brexiteers hoped May would deliver a good deal, they were wrong. They hoped we would leave on the 29th, they were wrong. A longer extension will lead to nothing positive. And so I say again, back the Prime Minister’s deal and let’s get out before it’s too late.
