The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
What is awaiting us all in a post-Brexit world?
As the clock ticks closer to Brexit, four political figures write for The Courier to outline their views on where the country is heading and what needs to be done before the UK formally leaves the EU on March 29 2019
A new poll has revealed that only a quarter of Britons believe Theresa May will secure a good Brexit deal.
A total of 72% of Britons lack confidence in her ability to reach a good deal with Brussels, the worst rating the prime minister has had in the Ipsos Mori political monitor.
It is the latest piece of bad news to hit the prime minister, who has lost six Cabinet ministers for various reasons since carrying out a major reshuffle seven months ago.
According to the poll, her personal approval rating also hit a new low over the past month, with Mrs May achieving a net score of -32.
A total of 30% say they are satisfied with the way Mrs May is doing her job in Downing Street, down five points since June, while 62% are dissatisfied, up four.
Jeremy Corbyn had a net score of -30, according to the survey, with 28% satisfied in his leadership and 58% dissatisfied.
Only 29% of those surveyed said the prime minister’s Chequers Brexit blueprint would be a good thing for the UK, with 47% suggesting it would be bad and 19% saying they did not know.
The two main parties are running neck and neck in voting intention figures, with both the Conservatives and Labour on 38%, the Liberal Democrats on 10% and Ukip on 6%.
Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori, said: “Theresa May has faced a lot of criticism since she launched her Chequers deal and our poll for the Standard shows this is mirrored among the public, with her ratings
GIDEON SKINNER, IPSOS MORI
continuing their recent decline to another new low – and the fall has been even sharper among her own supporters.
“But despite all that, our trends show her ratings are not unusual for a prime minister two years in and are still better than many of her potential alternatives.”
This week, European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier dealt the prime minister a serious blow by rejecting a key plank of her Brexit strategy.
Central to the prime minister’s plan, set out in a white paper a fortnight ago, is a “facilitated customs arrangement” under which tariffs charged at the border would be passed on to either the British or EU authorities, depending on the destination of imported goods.
However, Mr Barnier made clear that was not acceptable to Brussels.
Eurosceptic former Brexit minister Steve Baker has claimed the EU is pushing the UK towards a choice between leaving without a deal or “capitulation”.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has conceded backups of food may be required and Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted officials are considering working with industry to stockpile drugs, medical devices and supplies.
Now the UK Parliament is in recess there is, potentially, a chance for reflection and serious thought to be given to the plan agreed at Chequers, as well as how the negotiations to leave the EU can or should progress.
With that in mind and 245 days to go until the UK leaves the EU, The Courier has asked four political players with differing views both on the constitutional question and in terms of party alignment to give their opinion on where we are and what is likely to happen as talks progress.
As well as Scottish Secretary David Mundell pushing the UK Government’s case, leave supporting Labour peer Lord Moonie argues that stockpiling is sensible in normal times and Mr Raab and Mr Hancock’s statements are an admission of the Conservative administration’s weaknesses.
John Edward, who ran the Remain campaign in Scotland, says he is concerned for the future, while SNP MEP Alyn Smith outlines his thoughts on what will happen if no trade deal is struck.
Our trends show her ratings are not unusual for a prime minister two years in and are still better than many of her potential alternatives.