Not the time for unicorns Mr Chalk

✒ IN his Echo column (January 24), Alex Chalk argues too many MPS are chasing Brexit unicorns – mythical solutions that are ideologically pure but practically undeliverable.

He says that unicorn one is to withdraw with no backstop; unicorn two is the Norway option, in the single market and no freedom of movement; and unicorn three is the People’s Vote – the second referendum.

He claims credit for drafting the Murrison amendment of basically putting a time limit on the backstop.

So, say hello to unicorn four. The rationale for the backstop is to prevent having to reopen customs posts which would lead to a return to the violence of the Troubles - in the opinion of no less than the head of the Northern Ireland Police Service.

So, if unicorn one is undeliverable because no one wants a return to the sectarian violence, why is it ok to propose his own personal unicorn of returning to sectarian violence at a predetermined time of his choosing?

If the UK leaves with no deal or no way of ensuring free movement, there will be a hard border.

To quote Otto van Bismarck: “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable – the art of the next best.”

Of Alex’s four unicorns, three are ideologically sound – to a minority of MPS – but unattainable in practice.

One is ideologically unsound to Alex and his allies but it is practically deliverable.

So please stop playing games with my children’s future and represent the wishes of the majority of your constituents.

Get behind the campaign for a People’s Vote. Dennis Parsons