It is a sad reflection on the state of politics in Westminster that the future place of Britain in the world – to be inside or outside the European Union – has been eclipsed by the spectacle of mediocre personalities scrambling to take over from Theresa May. She has said she will stand down as leader of the Conservative Party – an event no doubt soon to be known as Trexit – and hence in due course as prime minister when her immediate Brexit business is over. That means either when her Withdrawal Agreement Bill is defeated at its second reading, or when, much less likely, it completes its passage through the legislature.
The Tories have become obsessed with two fetishes. The first is that Mrs May’s departure will quickly clear the way for a positive resolution of the Brexit mess. It will not, as all the challenges that have defeated her are lying in wait for her successor. The second is that only by walking away from the European Union with no deal will the Conservative Party satisfy the terms of the 2016 Brexit referendum. This is not true either.
23 May 2019, The Tablet
Second vote is only option left
Get Instant Access
Continue Reading
Register for free to read this article in full
Subscribe for unlimited access
From just £30 quarterly
Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
The full weekly edition in print and digital including our 179 years archive.
PDF version to view on iPad, iPhone or computer.
Already a subscriber? Login