Step closer to no-deal Brexit

There was a crashing inevitability about the reaction yesterday from MPS from across the political spectrum to Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement to the House of Commons about the draft Brexit deal agreed with EU leaders. Few were happy.

To hardline eurosceptics, the concessions she wishes to make to Europe were unpalatable. To those who continue to believe departure from the EU represents self-harm, Mrs May was guilty of failing to protect the economy by pushing ahead with a chaotic Brexit.

The Prime Minister now faces the very real prospect of parliament rejecting the draft agreement when MPS are called to vote on it on 11 December. As things stand, this makes a no-deal hard Brexit increasingly likely. This is an outcome that will satisfy only the most fervent eurosceptics. Warnings that the EU would always have the upper hand in any negotiations have proved to be entirely accurate.

Mrs May has signalled her determination to press ahead and win support for her agreement. We salute her optimism but fear, in this instance, it is entirely misplaced.