Theresa May heads to Brussels today to plead for an Article 50 extension. The expectation is that EU leaders will only grant one on the condition her deal passes next week on a third vote. This is looking increasingly hard to do following May’s No. 10 statement last night.
In an address to the nation, the Prime Minister attempted to lay the blame on MPs – rather than herself – for the fact that it is now very unlikely the UK will leave the EU at the end of March. May said it was a matter of deep ‘personal regret’ to her and went on to add:
‘All MPs have been willing to say is what they do not want. I passionately hope MPs will find a way to back the deal I have negotiated with the EU. A deal that delivers on the result of the referendum and is the very best deal negotiable.’
The problem is if May’s intention was to get MPs to back her deal, it appears to have already backfired. It turns out – whether right or not – making a speech all about the failures of your colleagues isn’t the best way to get said colleagues on side. With No. 10 now trying to spin the line that the choice is May’s deal or no deal to Labour MPs, the message looks as though it will fall on deaf ears. A string of Labour MPs representing Leave seats – the very people May needs to win around – were quick to go on the attack and say they would not back the deal now as May was trying to blame then for her failings. Labour’s Lisa Nandy said the speech was ‘disgraceful’ and ‘will have cost her support’ while her colleague Gareth Snell has spoken of his disappointment after holding meetings with the government in an attempt to find a breakthrough.
As for Conservative MPs, the speech has also gone down very badly. Cabinet ministers are bemused – asking who on earth in No. 10 thought it was a good idea. The Brexiteers don’t like it much and feel as though they are being bounced into a corner. What’s more, May’s hints that no deal is now an option have encouraged Eurosceptics to believe they can vote down the deal. Remain ministers are frustrated that this has happened – blaming May for only requesting a short extension. Had she requested a long one, however, it’s likely mass resignations would have followed.
May needs to convince 75 MPs to change their vote in order to pass her deal next week. The mood in Parliament is hardening against the deal. Last night’s intervention will not have helped.
Comments