MPs must think bold to make Brexit work
Theresa May is sometimes portrayed as a stern, headmistressy Prime Minister. But is it any wonder if the new leader of the Government, charged with implementing the most profound policy decision this nation has seen in many decades, occasionally feels the need to school some unruly charges? At the moment, when it comes to the monumental task of Brexit, too many politicians are seeking local advantage, or hoping to delay or scotch the process altogether. That attitude must change.
Parliament in particular appears to have taken upon itself the role of institutional handbrake, an outcome hardly surprising given that two thirds of MPs are Remainers, and so profoundly misread the mood of the nation. As a result, select committees, which play a vital role in scrutinising legislation and policy implementation, are overly filled – or led – by prominent MPs who voted to stay in the EU. Both the Home Affairs and Brexit committees are led by Labour Remainers and, as we report today, Hilary Benn, who chairs the latter, is already facing calls from Leavers for greater balance in his 21-strong line-up. Holding ministers and their departments to account is one thing – but campaigning to overturn the referendum result would be quite another. There must be no whiff of sabotage hanging over the committee rooms.
If MPs truly accept the will of the people as expressed in the Brexit vote, now is the time for them to explain how they best want to see that implemented. Given that Brexit is going to happen, all of our representatives at Westminster – not just Leavers – should be straining every sinew to suggest bold policy ideas in order to make the greatest possible success of it. The opportunities are legion. The Government, for example, is reportedly considering halving corporation tax, to 10 per cent, if the EU blocks a free-trade deal. One may ask, why wait? But in any case, it is just this kind of proposal to create a low-tax, low-regulation, business-friendly nation that should be bubbling up from our parliamentarians, rather than any depressing determination to revert to the status quo ante.
Mrs May must not only deal with grudging accomplices at Westminster. Today she is convening a summit of the ministers of the country’s devolved assemblies. The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must know there is no appetite to use Brexit to strain the United Kingdom or, in Scotland’s case, break away from it. They, too, must show some can-do spirit.