The ‘remain and reform’ mantra was implausible to begin with, but the choice of new EU Commission President fatally undermines it.
Who are you voting for to run the EU Commission? Have you watched the debates and scrutinised their manifestos? Oh, wait.
So how are we going to get a new deal? The key is to build strong relationships, both across the Party, with our DUP allies, and with our European partners.
There are real, viable answers to this sticky problem. But rebuilding trust may be as hard as resolving technical questions.
The then EU Budget Commissioner told me that giving control of this funding to national governments would make it subject to “democratic whim”.
A flexible labour market, a well-regarded legal system, and comparatively favourable demographics relative to the major European economies are all valuable assets.
“In my personal opinion, Olly Robbins should go to the Tower, in which case he should arrive by river.”
EU federalism will be stronger in Britain, as rules are simply imposed on you. And stronger in the rest of Europe – because you’re leaving us.
Beefed up to 26 pages (from seven), the Prime Minister hopes it will be enough to reassure rebellious MPs.
“And it does so while protecting jobs, protecting our security and protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom.”
Perhaps the Prime Minister will secure Parliament’s approval. But if she does not, the Conservative Party must choose a direction quickly.
In sum, Hammond said: vote for May’s Deal – or the economy gets it. But there’s more than one way of dicing the next election result.
The alternatives were worse – and her record in overseeing the Bundeswehr suggests that the misguided project would be doomed on her watch.