When Lord Kerr whistled, voters turned the Nelsonian equivalent of a deaf ear. When they whistled, he was dragged helplessly along by the command of a democratic vote.
The result of a general election next month would by no means be a foregone conclusion.
ConservativeHome is very dubious that, assuming a poll is deliverable, the Party can win a healthy majority without already having delivered Brexit.
In the wake of Johnson’s deal, the Government must balance its plan for Northern Ireland with strengthening “our precious Union” – all four parts of it.
There have been compromises on both sides and the DUP says it cannot support the new Withdrawal Agreement. But what’s actually in it and what’s new?
It may not be agreed at all with the EU – and if it is the numbers in the Commons are very tight indeed by our calculation.
There might not be time, but it at least now appears that a UK-EU deal on Brexit is conceivable.
We can begin to see how a deal can now be agreed and then pass Parliament. But the obstacles are still formidable.
Amid heated speculation, we reproduce the possible outcome presented by the former EU adviser to Theresa May.
Had the Benn Act not been passed, it would be far stronger – as he presents his new “fair and reasonable compromise” to the EU.
He says he’s best placed to deliver Brexit, slash corporation tax and beat Corbyn. And adds “I am not going to criticise Boris for going to a posher public school than me.”
“It is clear that the only way forward is leaving with a deal; but it is equally clear that this will not happen without compromise on all sides of the debate.”
Corbyn choose to eschew Europe altogether in his six questions, leading instead on inequality and votes for young people.
We now have the most amazing opportunity to deliver an emphatic victory over Corbyn’s extremists – and achieve Brexit into the bargain.