It should
have been D-Day for May. I expected a result, press conferences, and
resignations (yes more, maybe May herself?). Months and months of build up to
the final single most important day in British Politics of the recent three of
four decades, the make or break in the UK’s path for Brexit.
None of the
above happened. May, and I have to admit quite intelligently to save her face,
just postponed and called off the vote. May must have (finally) realised that
numbers were not on her side in Westminster, and while on one hand frantically
tried to tilt the balance in her favour, on the other hand sought other
options.
It is
evident that May did not want to risk the deal as it is and then opt after 21
days for a plan B. A crushing defeat on what would have been too much to
recover from. Also, May is definitely trying to avoid a vote of confidence
moved by the Labour Party. Although such vote is very hard to be won by Labour,
nothing can be excluded anymore at this stage. A general election at this point
would only mess things even further, especially if it delivers yet another hung
parliament. An easy way out for May could be a second referendum and leave the
choice to the people. One good news for May is the ruling of the European Court
of Justice; revocation of Article 50 by the UK does not need the permission of
the other Member States.
While being
squeezed with pressure from all parts, even from her own party, May is now
meeting other EU leaders in order to get reassurances which MPs demand on the
Irish backstop – a temporary customs arrangement designed to prevent the need
for checkpoints at the Irish border if a long-term solution cannot be agreed.
The issue is that this backstop will impose different regulations in Northern
Ireland from the rest of the UK, with the risk of becoming permanent.
And to just
make things perfect for May, the Irish Prime Minister already declared that
changes to this backstop are not possible.
Good luck
with this Ms May!
Comments
Post a Comment