Flimsy scripts of panto Parliament
JEREMY Corbyn called it the “greatest defeat for the Government since the 1920s in this House”.
In fact, the humbling of May was the biggest defeat of a government ever but Corbyn always sticks to his prepared script, as does Theresa May.
It has finally dawned on the Prime Minister, and it is staggering she still holds the title, that she must find consensus with other parties and not just with the Eurosceptic wing of her own party.
It is perilously late to find a Commons agreement now. May has little to offer anyone and has all the illuminating power of a broken lamppost.
Corbyn’s script requires him to move a motion of no confidence, which he will lose while the DUP continue to count Northern Ireland’s confidence and supply gold.
Anyone hoping for Labour to back a second referendum if, or when, they lose today’s confidence vote shouldn’t hold their breath. Corbyn would be dragged screaming and kicking to a people’s vote because, as an old member of the Eurosceptic left, he does not share Labour members’ internationalist instinct that the party campaign for Europe.
So, no general election, no people’s vote, for now.
But with time running out, and the May deal kicked out, it is hard to see what emerges from the ashes.
Coming back from a 230-vote defeat to something that commands a majority of MPs looks impossible, without the high-risk game of tempting Labour MPs to somehow back a deal.
All of that makes the no-deal exit favoured by the likes of Boris Johnson and his barmy army increasingly likely.
As Jacob Rees-Mogg left the palace of Westminster last night, he was smiling broadly. But he is always polite, and events look like they are following his script.