Katy Balls Katy Balls

They can’t all be right

All parliament’s tribes still think they can achieve their ideal Brexit outcome

Has there been a Brexit disaster? It depends on your point of view. When John Bercow ruled that the Prime Minister could not bring the same deal back for a third vote, there were a great number of MPs who seemed delighted. But they were at opposite ends of the Brexit debate. Needless to say, they can’t all be right.

Dominic Grieve, who longs for a second referendum, welcomed the decision — thinking that the panic, and the government’s inability to answer the question, would mean the decision being thrown back to the public. Bill Cash, one of the longest-standing Eurosceptics, also seemed pleased — appearing to calculate that Britain is set to leave the EU on Friday next week unless parliament votes for something different. And if parliament is paralysed, might that mean no deal being celebrated as early as next weekend?

Later, Brexiteers could be heard whistling the theme tune to The Great Escape in the members’ tearoom. When Michel Barnier followed up the Bercow announcement, saying there would need to be a ‘new event or new political process’ to justify agreeing to grant a Brexit extension, both sides seemed happier still — believing they were finally getting closer to their desired Brexit outcome. Remainers are delighted with the idea that Barnier would push for a softer Brexit. Brexiteers are convinced they could block that in parliament.

So once again, parliament is in tribes. The first cheerful faction is the so-called People’s Vote campaign for a second referendum. If anything, this collective would like Brussels to permit a longer extension period — up to two years — and ideally one with a caveat of a second public vote attached. At present, there aren’t the numbers in parliament to bring about a second referendum but these MPs believe that with time more colleagues will come around to the idea as the only way to break the parliamentary logjam.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in