This is a time for honour and hard-headed realism

POLITICS has long been a treacherous business. But has it ever been quite as sordid as in Westminster now? There are traitors in all directions as the countdown begins to the most important parliamentary vote since the Second World War.

Former attorney-general Dominic Grieve, Speaker John Bercow, ex-prime minister John Major, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and the hopeless Jeremy Corbyn are all putting their own agendas or ambitions first and the future of this great country second.

The people have voted and the people are now sick of this Brexit shambles. A deal is on the table and while we are the first to accept it is far from perfect, it is the only deal we have managed to secure. And who could do any better than what Theresa May has come up with? If she loses tomorrow’s vote by a big margin there could be no other alternative than for her to resign, amid a huge clamour for a general election.

The Tories are already in the throes of tearing each other apart and this could pave the way for Corbyn to sneak into Downing Street. Is it worth the risk?

We urge politicians to examine their consciences – and put the country first. And we urge the EU to come forward even at this late hour with the sort of reassurances about the Irish backstop that could swing the vote in May’s favour. Are we hoping for a miracle? No. We want hard-nosed pragmatism to win the day.