Cool heads needed to break Brexit impasse

IN clear, composed tones Theresa May spelled out the realities of the current Brexit impasse to the House of Commons yesterday – and the grim consequences of failing to overcome them.

Neither the rowdy, baying MPs who packed the chamber, nor negotiators in Brussels can have been left in any doubt. The time for posturing is over. This is the endgame.

Her unequivocal message was that unless the EU backs down on its insistence on a clause in the withdrawal agreement that would see Northern Ireland indefinitely tied to the customs union after the rest of the UK has left, there will be no deal. This is no idle threat. No Prime Minister could ever countenance splitting up the UK and allowing one of its constituent parts to be annexed by Europe.

Even if Mrs May wanted to, the Democratic Unionist Party – on whom she relies for her majority – would never allow it.

Jeremy Corbyn huffed and puffed but, as ever, had no answers. With its leadership staunchly Eurosceptic and most of its MPs Remainers, Labour is more hopelessly split than the Tories. The idea Mr Corbyn could achieve a good deal is risible.

Meanwhile, Conservative Brexiteers offered no plan B, beyond vague references to a Canada-style deal (which still wouldn’t solve the Irish question) and no deal at all.

So the ball is now in the EU’s court. If they are prepared to risk wholesale damage to the Irish farming, German car manufacturing and French wine-making industries, they may keep prevaricating.

If not, they must bring serious proposals to the table.

This was a steadfast performance from a Prime Minister battling valiantly against daunting odds to honour the referendum.

She remains confident that with ‘cool, calm heads’, an orderly Brexit may yet be achieved. But she left us under no illusion. The alternative is chaos.