We have a deal on the table. In reality it does not answer the question the result of the referendum posed: what type of deal do we want? The progress we have actually made in 2 years is to say, 'we want to leave' but nothing more. Or as its been termed: 'Blind Brexit' in which we exit but without knowing what comes next.
Even this is controversial. There are apparently some 88 Conservative back bench MPs (or half the Conservative back bench MPs) who are intending to vote against approving the deal. Some are remainers and some are hard leavers. Each side believing there is still everything to play for; whether that be no deal or no brexit. We are still as divided as ever.
The stumbling block, as ever, is largely the NI backstop. With many still arguing that it should be time limited. This fails to understand that the backstop is the GFA to all intents and purposes. And this is why Ireland and the EU will never agree to have a time limited backstop.
And once again we have this fundamental misunderstanding that the withdrawal agreement is anything more than merely the mechanism to leave, not the final deal, which is hampering all discussion of the subject.
There is talk that May will try to push the deal through and if she fails she will try for a second time. This might work, if this wasn't being anticipated. The trouble is the element of surprise is gone. This has now been denied by a No10 spokesperson. And has the possibility of a second referendum. Though the door on that, seems to be more open than less, with May's official declaration of a Blind Brexit. The whole effectiveness of a TARP style situation and a second vote on the deal in the HoC is the guilotine effect, where MPs look over the cliff and go 'shiiiiiitttt'. If the hope is alive for another way out for either the ERG or Remainers, then the plan is dead anyway. The a50 ECJ case is also still on; the latest government appeal to kill it was blocked.
Not only this, but there is the first tangable rumblings of discontent within the EU towards the deal. Spain has talked about voting the deal down. Whether this is anymore than talk, remains to be seen. Spain can not veto the deal at this stage anyway - but it might be able to cause trouble further down the line and thats the danger.
Meanwhile Labour are still promising unicorns and a total renegotition of the deal. This still focuses on the backstop.
Sunday's EU summit does still seem to be on though, despite Merkel suggesting that she wouldn't turn up.
And remember, as it stands, on 29th March we will leave the EU without a deal. The power to stop this lies with the Government and EU as far as we know at present, pending the outcome of the ECJ case.
May still has everything to do to make a deal happen and there are so many forces and people working to break it. We have still not made any real progress to Brexit, apart from get closer to it, through the mere ticking of the clock.
Brexit
Westminstenders: Break it or make it.
RedToothBrush · 23/11/2018 11:43
Don't know if anyone else feels Brexiteers have been remarkably quiet ... if nothing else, this deal has achieved that 
.
Not sure if there are any subscribers to the BBC History magazine, but a heads up that the "My Hero" piece on the Inside Back Page (now there's a name for a group ) is JRM on Disraeli.
(delurks momentarily) They're going to have to find a way to stay in the EU, aren't they? As an Irishwoman, I think it is the only WA you could have expected and I am amazed at how well the Irish government managed to keep its red lines but yes, of course it's shit for you.
If it's that, no deal or Remain, Remain is the only vaguely sane choice. It was always like that but it looks like the clouds are clearing even for some of the Brexiteers .
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