Could Theresa May be the victor after all?

COULD Theresa May’s persistence pay off? Having decisively rejected the Theresa May deal twice , MPs are busy looking for an alternative, with Labour’s proposal in which both the Customs Union and Single Market would feature being a possible alternative.

It would overcome the Irish border problem, be good for trade and jobs, and make the UK attractive to foreign investors who wanted free access to the EU. But this presupposes that the EU is prepared to re-open negotiations: its current position is that it has a deal, agreed with Theresa May, and is not going to start again.

There has to be some sympathy for this. The other 27 member countries all have other important issues that need their attention. It is two and a half years since the referendum, and since taking on the role of chief negotiator Theresa May’s approach since reaching an agreement with the EU has been to delay discussions whilst insisting that we will leave the EU on March 29.

The only hope for those opposed to the Theresa May deal, but also opposed to leaving without a deal, is to ask for an extension to the leaving date. This is possible, but only if all 27 member countries agree. It would only need one country to say “no” for this to be refused. So the risk is that Spain could make its agreement related to its claim regarding Gibralter. MPs could find themselves having to choose between accepting the Theresa May deal, or leaving without a deal. Norman Bathurst,

Tiverton