Triumph for May, vital for our nation

THE Prime Minister has done what we have long urged her to do, and used her quiet strength and resilience to get a Cabinet agreement on a pragmatic and workable Brexit.

The Mail on Sunday has consistently argued that she has more power than she appears to have, and that her calm, patient character is well adapted to winning such battles. We have said it is only just and wise that the ultimate terms of our exit should respect the very large minority of Britons who favour remaining, and take account of the legitimate worries of business, the foundation of our prosperity.

It is a notable achievement, perhaps one of the most significant political successes for some years – all the more so for having been so hard-fought and for having taken so long to achieve.

The article we publish on this page by Greg Clark and Michael Gove, on opposite sides of the Brexit debate, illustrates the depth and skill of the compromise the Prime Minister has achieved.

Far from using up her reserves of power, it has considerably increased Mrs May’s authority and left the dogmatic hard-line Brexiteers deflated and divided.

This was their chance to stand and fight, and they did not take it.

Of course, that is not to say they will not return to trouble Mrs May, perhaps quite soon. They have always been ready to snipe at her from behind safe and distant rocks, or plot and whisper against her. But the reason they avoided battle at Chequers was quite simple. They fear they do not possess the strength in the Parliamentary Tory Party to get their way, and they can feel opinion in the country moving inexorably in favour of a compromise.

Apart from anything else, voters on both sides of the EU divide, and of all parties, are sick of the delays and want their elected and well-paid leaders to earn their salaries and govern. They are weary of the Government acting as if it is a feeble invalid that cannot or dare not make up its mind.

And various claims that the voters wanted this or that rigid, immovable provision in the departure deal are fantasies. In all negotiations at the end of disputes, the sensible rank and file know perfectly well that they cannot have everything they wanted.

One thing that is easy to forget amid the fuss about the Chequers summit is that it is quite clear on one issue. This country is leaving the European Union, the one thing that a majority most definitely did vote for, and which Mrs May and many of her colleagues have loyally stuck to despite their own private doubts.

In strong contrast to other EU states, whose governments have ignored, overridden or rerun hostile referendums on their countries’ links with Brussels, the British Government has quite properly obeyed the verdict of the 2016 vote, and will continue to do so.

The EU’s own leaders and negotiators should take careful note of what has happened. They should not underestimate Theresa May. And they should see that it would be sensible, and in their own interests, to make practical compromises with her now, while they can.

Failure to do so would undermine Mrs May’s considerable success. It could revive those forces and factions, now in retreat, who still treasure hopes of a hard and dangerous Brexit.