Purists are risking the thing they fear most
HOW utterly bewildered and exasperated the long-suffering public must be over the week’s extraordinary events inside the Westminster bubble.
Just as Theresa May seemed to be edging towards a compromise which could finally make her withdrawal deal acceptable to both Parliament and the EU, her efforts are sabotaged by insurgents within her own party.
And over what? An innocuous and seemingly unexceptionable Commons motion voicing support for the Government’s approach to the negotiations.
Because the motion recognised that there was no majority in the House for leaving with No Deal, hardline Tory Eurosceptics saw it as a plot to soften Brexit. They flew into a spin of self-righteous indignation and rejected it.
As a result, they have seriously weakened Mrs May’s hand with Brussels at this most crucial moment, and rendered the chances of Brexit being delayed, or even reversed altogether, more likely than ever.
For the sake of ideological purity, they are risking the very thing they fear most.
But like so many zealots, the European Research Group can’t (or won’t) see the likely consequences of their actions.
Neither can they see how hopelessly out of step they are with the overwhelming desire of the public (not to mention business and industry) for politicians to stop bickering and unite behind a viable Brexit solution.
Even Bank of England governor Mark Carney, a fervent Remainer, now healingly concedes that a good deal could herald ‘a new form of international co-operation and cross-border commerce’.
People are exhausted and disillusioned by the vainglorious posturing of MPs. They have given the political class a mandate to guide Britain safely out of the EU and are being failed miserably.
Former Brexit minister and now ERG leading light Steve Baker gave a perfect example yesterday of how deluded the ultras have become. Asked what his aim was, he replied: ‘To deliver an exit deal which works for everybody.’
In fact, the ERG rebels are seeking an exit deal (or perhaps more accurately No Deal) which suits almost no-one but themselves. If they had a little more honesty, they would admit this and start working towards a genuine compromise.
As this paper is constantly pointing out, there is a deal which – if the backstop issue can be resolved – delivers all the main requirements of Brexit. That is the Prime Minister’s deal.
So if Mr Baker and the Tory purists really want to deliver a Brexit for everyone, they should make a bonfire of their vanities and get behind their leader.