Finishing line in sight

After months of false starts, angry showdowns, and almost unfathomable debates over obscure details, it appears the Brexit talks are finally drawing to a close. Reports suggest that a deal has been reached at a “technical” level and a special Cabinet meeting will be held today for ministers to thrash out the Government’s position. If the Cabinet accepts it, an EU leaders’ summit could be held later in the month to finalise the agreement. A vote in Parliament would follow to allow MPS to ratify the deal.

Except matters are unlikely to run so smoothly. Debate in recent weeks has centred on the need for a mechanism to allow the UK to leave the so-called “all-uk backstop”. Will this materialise, and if so will it give powers of oversight to the European Court of Justice? Several ministers have signalled that they will not support an agreement that leaves the country unable to express its sovereign right to leave any arrangement made with the EU.

Then there is Parliament, where the arithmetic is perilous for the Government. Yesterday it was forced to agree to publish legal advice on Brexit after a rebellion by Tory Eurosceptics and the DUP. Does it have the numbers to ensure the Withdrawal Agreement gets through unscathed?

In short, the matter is coming to a head and, after months of the details being shrouded in secrecy, it will finally be possible to have an informed debate about whether the deal Theresa May brings home from Brussels is the Brexit the country voted for. With no parliamentary majority and little agreement among the warring factions, it is impressive that the Prime Minister has got this far. But now her greatest struggle may just be beginning.