Ahem. This is actually the endgame now, after the false dawn earlier this autumn.
The deal agreed by the UK and EU has been leaked and it looks really bad. Essentially, the UK would be trapped into a 'temporary' Custom Union that we couldn't leave without EU say so - which it will never give because it does not want a competitive rival on its doorstep. Added to that, Northern Ireland will be subject to Single Market rules - giving Dublin and Brussels more of a say over some laws in Northern Ireland than London or Belfast. So trapping us in a Customs Union and still subject to EU law - for the price of £45bn.
The good news in all this is that at the moment she doesn't have the numbers to get this through Parliament. The Tory ERG (40 hardcore), the DUP (10), Tory remainers (10 to 20) and Scottish Tories (10ish) are all going to vote it down. Labour will whip its MPs to vote against, the eurosceptic Labour rebels like Kate Hoey MP are also saying they will vote against.
So, we’re off. Cabinet to be invited to approve draft EU withdrawal agreement - one to one meetings tonight & full Cabinet tomorrow. If the Leavers who’ve been threatening to quit are going to do it it’s now or never.
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) November 13, 2018Breaking: Cabinet ministers are being called into No10 to see the PM one by one tonight ahead of full Cabinet meeting tomorrow to sign off Brexit divorce deal. Endgame is beginning.
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) November 13, 2018Theresa May’s Brexit agreement is the worst deal in history.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 13, 2018
The PM MUST be removed ASAP.
