So today the government pulled the vote on May's Deal from the House of Commons schedule (was due to be held tomorrow) because of the overwhelming numbers against it in Parliament. The government was due to be defeated by 150 to over 200 votes which is truly unprecedented and in normal times would result in the collapse of a government.
So the PM now says she'll go back to Brussels but the EU say they won't renegotiate the backstop which tears NI away from the UK.
Meaning with the clock running down and 108 days to go, No Deal is the de facto legal destination.I have decided to call #EUCO on #Brexit (Art. 50) on Thursday. We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop, but we are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification. As time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no-deal scenario.
— António Costa (@eucopresident) December 10, 2018
I may have got this wrong. Looking at European Union Withdrawal Act it seems that @theresa_may could keep the current talks with EU going well passed 21 Jan, perhaps right up to Brexit day 29 March, and avoid any parliamentary Brexit vote. @YvetteCooperMP understandably concerned https://t.co/1kgnGmXBxJ
— Robert Peston (@Peston) December 10, 2018In No Deal (clean break) we get to keep £39bn and spend it on ourselves (NHS, military, schools) and we're free to make 100% of our own laws and Free Trade Deals (FTAs) from day one. What's not to like? We've got just over 3 months to prepare for it.How can May tool up to face Brussels in the face of this humiliation? Declare No Deal now most likely option and start splashing that cash.
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) December 10, 2018
We should say to the EU we're going for No Deal, and they can give Number 10 a call when they're prepared to be sensible and talk about a trade deal without demanding we follow their rules forever and Northern Ireland is basically split from our country. No other country in the history of modern global trade have demanded such terms as the EU has so let's tell them to get lost.
Thoughts?
