Plus: The Sports Minister speaks to a stranger on the tube. Phone-in callers back Universal Credit. And: It’s Coming Home, It’s Coming Home, It’s Coming Home…
A Brexit in the hand is worth two in the bush. None the less, the Commons will have to vote her proposals down, if the EU banks them but offers no proper deal in return.
Any Cabinet member who throws their toys out of the pram at Chequers will receive a cold shoulder in the tearoom.
And: One Greg Clark. Two Vince Cables. Eleven Germans going home. 100,000 Remain protesters. 17 million Leave voters. Plus: Meanwhile, Javid gets on with his job.
Within EFTA, there are already two models of relationship with the EU – the EEA and the Swiss model. There is no reason why there could not be a third.
May’s appeal next week at Chequers will be founded in grinding detail, not Churchillian rhetoric. Key to agreement will be taking Ministers with her and springing no untoward surprises.
“If we have not got a deal that’s good for Britain. If there were attempts to keep us in the Customs Union or the Single Market then we would have to have no deal.”
Since she might not get an acceptable agreement, or indeed any at all, the Government must strain to get Ready for Day One, not Ready for Day 730.
The Brexit Secretary has taken control of the Government’s dealings with Grieve – for the moment, anyway. Watch for further twists and turns.
We need to be tough – without a deal, they should get no money from us, reduced troop levels in Eastern Europe, less help on refugee issues in the Mediterranean.
The Shadow Brexit Secretary claims that there is now widespread concern about the Government’s ability to bring home any sort of deal at all.
Any exceptions for those with job offers would simply be flimsy camouflage for a wholesale retreat and for the abandonment of a major pledge to the British public.