Compromise is the only way to heal the nation.. but it must be a good deal for all

Today MPs hold the future of this country in their hands. They will have the opportunity to back Theresa May’s deal or seek to find a better way forward.

The Mirror strongly urges them to do the latter. The turbulent Brexit debate has consumed the nation for more than two years.

Energy that should have been spent on addressing our neglected public services, tackling regional inequality, ending the housing crisis and improving skills and education has been exhausted on the tortuous process of trying to engineer our EU departure.

A nation that used to be at ease with itself has become bitter and distrustful. Rather than seek to celebrate the things we have in common we now turn too quickly to the issues that divide us.

Little wonder many people are sick to the back teeth with the whole thing and just want it over.

This paper shares that frustration. But the ability to tackle the issues that matter depends on getting a Brexit resolution that satisfies most of the 52% who voted Leave and most of the 48% who backed Remain.

And that will require those most British of virtues: compromise and pragmatism. If our politicians are willing to co-operate rather than conspire, reason rather than spread rancour, then there is a way forward that can unite our troubled land and secure our future prosperity.

With reservations, the Mirror backed Remain because we feared the economic consequences of Brexit would hit our readers the hardest.

The same argument applies today. We cannot endorse a Brexit deal that trying to sell us. Even with the last minute concessions, her deal offers no legally binding protections for workers’ rights and the environment.

Hard won benefits – such as paid holidays, protection for agency workers and parental leave – that are so important to Mirror readers could all be put at risk.

Mrs May is also gambling the UK’s prosperity on securing a trade deal with the EU that would be negotiated from a position of weakness. We would enter these trade talks having thrown away all our bargaining chips and with the EU able to veto any of our demands.

We will have gone from sitting at the top table to living in a Brussels dog basket. The only option worse than Mrs May’s proposal is crashing out without a deal.

Consider those who are in favour of a no deal – the likes of Jacob ReesMogg, Iain Duncan Smith and Sir John Redwood – and ask yourself if they would ever be on your side.

They may be rich enough to cope with the economic catastrophe that would ensue; but others will be much less fortunate, especially if they lose their job and find prices rising.

If, as expected, Mrs May loses the vote today then it is time for Parlia-