The clock is ticking and still no clarity

Theresa May has stood at the Commons despatch box answering questions about Brexit for more than 20 hours in the past two months, probably longer than any prime minister since the Home Rule battles of the 19th century. Yesterday she spent a further two and a half hours in the House as frustrated MPS tried to break down her seemingly impervious resistance to any idea that she might be wrong. The criticism of Mrs May is becoming increasingly strident, with some of the strongest words coming from her own side. However, there was support from previously critical Tories such as Sir Edward Leigh, which will give her at least some hope of changing more minds.

Strength of purpose and an iron will are prerequisites of leadership; but so, too, are an understanding of what is possible and an ability to adapt to circumstances. Mrs May is determined to get her deal through the Commons once it has been made more palatable by the legally binding assurances from the EU that the leaders of the 27 and the Commission have so far said will not be forthcoming.

Mrs May says the vote will now take place in the second week of January, by which time there will be just two months to Brexit and she hopes MPS will be panicked into supporting her deal. But what if they aren’t? Until the Commons votes, everything is in suspended animation. No other options can be considered, and unless preparations for leaving without a deal – which would mark a failure of government policy – are accelerated, a calamity awaits in March.

The Prime Minister has emphatically – and rightly – ruled out a second referendum, which many MPS now demand. Yet she also emphatically ruled out a snap election and emphatically insisted last week’s meaningful vote would go ahead, before pulling it at the last minute. The question of trust looms large. What does her Cabinet think of this state of affairs? Ministers have fragmented into at least three different camps – hard Brexiteers, soft Brexiteers and second-referendum supporters – making good governance impossible.

Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a censure motion against Mrs May personally, but this is just a gimmick since it avoids a vote of no confidence in the Government that would bring about a general election. What we need is not more parliamentary antics but clarity; and, with just 100 days left, it is still absent.