Blinking heck

Monday’s very British coup produced levels of compromise, non-partisanship, common sense and goodwill that saw Letwin, Cooper, Clark, Soubry – even the SNP’S Stewart Hosie – come together.

Clearly rattled, the EU responded with feeble “nodeal” warnings of traveller and pet checks and raised mobile roaming charges. I wonder if they regret not giving David Cameron what he wanted, or their hard line on the Backstop?

It now turns out that the EU are miles from agreeing border arrangements with the Irish Government – Parliament may have inadvertently called their bluff. Given that the Backstop was the main obstacle to a deal, and no-deal will be a real disaster for Ireland, could it be that the EU will now blink first?

ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven