Daily Mail

Parliament in control? What an utter farce

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SO much for this being the day Parliament took control of the Brexit process!

After no fewer than twelve separate ‘indicative votes’ on possible alternativ­es to Theresa May’s withdrawal deal, they have finally produced a majority for… absolutely nothing. They debated long and tediously the merits of remaining in the customs union, the so-called Norway Plus option of effectivel­y staying in the EU without a seat at the decision-making table, a second referendum and withdrawal of Article 50.

But in the end none of the amendments passed, and none received as many votes as Mrs May’s withdrawal bill.

So although enough hot air was expended to fill a Zeppelin, we are no further forward. If this was Parliament in control, heaven help British democracy.

All these amendments were designed either to soften or nullify Brexit. And while nothing was resolved, we did learn something about the Opposition.

The Labour leadership’s conversion to Brexit in name only has been a study in shameless opportunis­m.

Having consistent­ly said they would honour the referendum by leaving the single market and ending free movement, they have reneged spectacula­rly, with the sole aim of destabilis­ing the Government.

One can only hope they will pay dearly for their hypocrisy when the next election does come around. Why on earth should anyone trust a word they say?

A customs union, the most popular option and still said to be under considerat­ion by some senior Tories, may have superficia­l appeal. It would bring an end to free movement, avoid economic shock, ensure the continuati­on of frictionle­ss trade and take us out of the Common Agricultur­e and Fisheries Policies.

It has serious drawbacks however. We would lose control of our trade policy, still be subject to EU law and – crucially – the Irish border problem would not be solved.

So today the Cabinet has huge decisions to make. Mrs May will try one more time to push through her bruised and battered deal – with renewed authority after yesterday’s fiasco.

It is still easily the best and most honourable outcome if Parliament can be dragged to its senses.

But there will be no shortage of siren voices urging her on the one side towards customs union or some form of soft Brexit, on the other towards No Deal (which remains the default position, despite the Commons having ‘ruled it out’).

Either choice would create a vicious split in the party, with the very real prospect of an early general election and a Corbyn-led Government emerging from the chaos.

If Tory MPs have any interest in their party staying in Government, they should back the deal.

We can forget a change of heart from the DUP, so it will rely for survival on the support of an unlikely alliance of Labour MPs from Leave-voting areas, who may yet be shamed into fulfilling the wishes of their constituen­ts, and Tory Brexit ‘ultras’ like Steve Baker.

One can only hope enough of the latter group realise that they are now faced with a binary choice. It’s the May agreement or their very worst fear – no Brexit. Mr Baker and his European Research Group colleagues like to style themselves as Spartans, after the ferocious warriors of Ancient Greece who would rather die than surrender.

But perhaps they should remember that the Spartans were slaughtere­d – in their droves. Leonidas and his army were wiped out to the last man at the famously gory battle of Thermopyla­e.

A heroic gesture? No, just an exercise in vainglorio­us and reckless stupidity.

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