Can chef May cook up a recipe for Brexit success?

Too many cooks? Theresa May is struggling with her Brexit concoction – and fellow Tories David Davis and Boris Johnson don’t always help. the bloc to secure the best possible access to the single market.

And then there’s Boris who can be trusted to produce semi- deliberate gaffes practically on demand.

This week’s offering – immediately denied – was his “very clear” claim to four European ambassadors that he backs freedom of movement of EU citizens into and out of Britain.

Of course, none of this necessarily sheds any light on what a final deal might look like.

Essentially it’s just noise – albeit noise that will become increasingly frenzied and harmful as the unbearable countdown to the triggering of Article 50 continues.

It’s no doubt annoying for Mrs May – her frustration is evident in her regularly sub-par performances at Prime Minister’s Questions.

And this week’s four- day, televised Supreme Court appeal – heard by 11 judges who aren’t expected to rule until the new year – will shine an even brighter spotlight on the debate.

The case centres on whether the Prime Minister can activate the twoyear process for leaving the EU without parliament’s support.

As far as she’s concerned it’s black and white – the people voted to leave the EU, Brexit means Brexit, the Government can exercise its socalled prerogative powers.

But last month the High Court upheld the complaint of investment fund manager Gina Miller and others, who argued only Parliament can take away rights granted by Parliament.

It is now for the highest court in the land, which has agreed to hear representation from the Scottish Government, to determine who is right.

If the Supreme Court judges endorse the High Court’s opinion, it will force the Tory Government into a parliamentary vote.

Mrs May has said she is confident of winning, but – regardless of the outcome – she seems resolved to keep to her March deadline.

With that in mind, ministers have reportedly prepared a bomb- proof, three-line bill.

A back-up in case the Government loses, it is believed to be so tightly drawn it will be difficult to amend, with the aim of pushing it through the Commons quickly. It would then have to go before the Lords, however, and some peers may be keen to throw a spanner in the works.

Ministers believe they wouldn’t dare block the legislation if it had been approved by MPs, but this is by no means certain.

Remember they are unelected and so not accountable to their constituents at the ballot box like their colleagues in the lower house.

Moreover, last month, Deputy President of the Supreme Court Lady Hale suggested the process could be significantly more complicated.

She raised the question of whether a “simple Act of Parliament” would be enough to give notice or whether a comprehensive replacement of the 1972 act that took the UK into the European Economic Community would be required.

This would be the ultimate headache for Mrs May who looks unlikely to be splatter-free any time soon.

Getting the kind of meal she wants into the oven will be a huge challenge. THE Scottish Government has said it will “look at options” for rail fares before the end of this year.

In the rest of the UK, train fares will go up by an average of 2.3% on January 2.

Regulated ScotRail fare increases are capped at the level of Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, while offpeak regulated fares are restricted to 1% below RPI. Labour has called for a fares freeze.

An SG spokeswoman said: “No final decision has been taken on next year’s fares in Scotland and we are looking at options before the end of the year.” SCOTTISH Greens have promised to support a second independence referendum if it helps Scotland retain its place in Europe.

The Scottish Government is consulting on draft legislation for another vote to be held if Holyrood ministers believe this is the only way to maintain links with the EU.

Scottish Greens co-convener Maggie Chapman backed that approach, and said: “We have been fighting since June 24 to keep Scotland where we belong, at the heart of Europe.”

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