Get ready to play May’s Chicken Game again before too long
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”
Stalemate
May wins – but not by enough to break free from her internal opponents. Too strong to fall and too weak to win, she is, if anything, more exposed to them than before.
May’s policy leads inexorably to No Brexit or No Deal. If Tory MPs fear either, they should take a chance on change today.
If nothing else moves you, remember that a win for the Prime Minister will confirm the loss of the DUP. Isn’t that the most likely route to the election you dread?
158 is not the magic number
The challenge is on – and has been rushed forward in timing that helps May. None the less, a simple majority for her might not be enough.
Chicken May
Is she chickening out on Brexit? Or playing chicken with Commons and Party over her deal? Or merely a headless chicken herself – bent on daily survival?
MEANINGFUL VOTE PULLED. 11.15: Prime Minister’s spokesman – yes it’s on. 11.30: Cabinet members – no, it’s off…
May has bowed to the inevitable in a desperate bid to fend off catastrophic defeat – and 48 letters.
“Johnson is Aslan.” Discuss.
It’s always the Implementation Period, but never Christmas.
Opining for the fjords
Norway-to-Canada was one thing. Norway-plus-the-backstop is another. It is inferior even to the Prime Minister’s proposed deal.
Why Conservative MPs should prepare to call for a confidence vote in the Prime Minister’s leadership this week
A new leader will be a surer means of delivering Brexit if she can’t extract last-minute backstop concessions.
Exclusive. New Government of National Unity Cabinet in full.
We have the full list from the New Progressive Democratic Liberal National Coalition Party – including a three-way Northern Ireland jobshare.
May says Brexit will happen on time. Gove says that it may not happen at all. Which is it?
They can’t both be right – at least, not if an administration headed by the Prime Minister holds office. Could she please clear the matter up?
Nine out of ten Conservative activists are against a second referendum. Our survey.
And No Deal is now activists’ most favoured option of all. Views are hardening as the endgame looms into sight.
Drained of authority? Yes. Rudderless? Certainly. Humiliated? Absolutely. But May’s very weakness is becoming a strange strength.
She looks increasingly like the captive of pro-Remain cross-party MPs working together against the pro-Leave referendum mandate.
ConHome’s Cabinet League Table. Everyone’s rating is down – and half of the top table is now in negative territory. Worst ever results.
Not for the faint-hearted. Contains intense violence, blood and gore, strong language and Philip Hammond.
The legal advice row – and how the tensions between a Leave result, Remain MPs and weak government is straining our conventions.
The unwritten rules usually apply. The legislature doesn’t make foolish demands. And the executive bows to the legislature. But these are not normal times.