May’s realistic riposte to the Brexit bluster

AT LAST, we begin to see a sustainable realism in the Brexit debate. The Prime Minister’s speech on the European issue on Friday was a significant step forward. Finally, this huge and unwieldy policy has begun to mesh with normal, serious politics.

This, of course, means some lowered expectations, mostly for those who were most fervent for a hard and radical departure, but also for those who still treasure dreams of reversing the whole thing.

Mrs May’s speech in London was all about reality, and compromise without defeat. It has been criticised for not being specific enough, but the truth is that when you are engaged in hard and lengthy negotiations, a certain amount of vagueness is a wise policy. Just not too much.

She has moved from constructive ambiguity – approaching a problem sideways without making too many enemies – to constructive pragmatism, a policy which keeps as many people as possible happy, without sacrificing its basic aim.

And the welcome given to her speech by the Brexiteers’ new hero, Jacob ReesMogg, as well as by Remainers, is a sign she has found a well-calibrated formula, which remains firm on immigration and on our freedom to trade globally.

For the time being at least, the impractical bluster of the hard Brexiteers will be silenced. And one of the reasons for this is Mrs May’s decent, normal approach to politics. One of her most powerful points was her acceptance that cherrypicking is necessary in trade talks, and her recognition that we will have to pay a price for it. This is a direct and businesslike riposte to the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.

We understand that the EU intends to make us pay for a deal that will work. Very well then. But they may be sure we will want something solid in return.

The difficulty over Northern Ireland remains unsolved, but that is largely because we do not yet know the wider arrangements which will affect that unique frontier.

An accommodation will be found because it must be found. The idea that anyone in London wants to overturn the Good Friday Agreement is absurd.

Once again, Mrs May has ignored her detractors and shown that her sensible, unshowy approach to politics brings results where flamboyant characters and extreme policies would bring only conflict and confusion. Her success will help her to resist these dangerous forces when they resurface.

Mrs May has brought a very divided Cabinet together and united her fractious party, while avoiding the sort of cheap opportunism practised by Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn. She deserves support, so the hard work of getting the best possible deal can begin.