The line was ad-libbed, apparently. “…and nobody is ruling out Remain as an option.” As anti-Brexit statements go, in the abstract at least, it is comically tame. Yet given the fact that we’ve had a couple of years of Corbyn saying things along the lines of “I hate the capitalist EU and can’t wait to […]
While Labour’s call for a general election makes political sense, they haven’t bothered to have it make any logical sense whatsoever
A repeated theme from the Labour frontbench for many months now has been that a second referendum on Brexit would be a terrible idea, and that if May crashes and burns on the rocks of the negotiations, we should have a general election instead. The problem is, they really haven’t thought this one through. Like, […]
Could Boris come out for Remain at the last moment?
I will start by saying that I base none of what is to immediately follow on rumours I’ve heard swirling around Westminster, nor some sort of insider’s knowledge regarding what Boris may or may not be planning. I really have no idea what BoJo is thinking or even rumoured heavily to be thinking. I can […]
Why “chuck Chequers, keep May” is logically absurd
Boris, as ever, is leading the charge for the Tory Brexiteers. In doing so, he has explicitly laid out the strategy of trying to destroy the Chequers “agreement” while simultaneously keeping May in Number 10. As he writes in the Daily Telegraph on the matter: “It’s not about the leadership. It’s about the policy. It’s not […]
Why I really doubt there will be a Tory leadership contest before March 2019
Parts of Westminster are aflutter with the notion that we could have a new prime minister soon. I don’t see it. I realise the ERG group and their affiliates are annoyed with May and feel betrayed by her; but the window to get rid of her has very long since passed. Further, their feelings of […]
Here’s how a second referendum happens
For a very long time, I considered a second referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU to be a complete impossibility. Neither major party has ever endorsed the idea, which is pretty fatal as these things go. However, I think it is starting to look ever more likely to happen due to a strange, in […]
A look at the Boris Daily Telegraph article that provoked a harsh response from Number 10 (at last)
“Look, Boris Johnson resigned over Chequers. There are no new ideas in this article to respond to. What we need at this time is serious leadership with a serious plan and that’s exactly what the country has with this prime minister and this Brexit plan.” That is an official comment from Number 10 in relation […]
Brexit, Italy and what the emotional heart of Leave is really about to the true Brexiteer
I am on an extended tour through the continent with my wife and three small children. To add perspective to the following story, they are six, four and one. So, you know, small kids. We have taken in France, Italy and now Austria, where I write this article. Throughout this adventure, I have learned some […]
What does the Observer poll showing a Remain lead in seats really mean?
A few days ago – I think it was only a few days ago at least. I’m on an extended continental holiday – a large sample poll came out via The Observer which showed that in terms of seats, Remain was now ahead. Some of you may recall the analysis of what would have happened […]
The view of Brexit from France
I, like many, have chosen to holiday on the continent this year. I say many because France is even more packed with Brits than usual this year. It makes sense: this is the summer to do it, as we literally have no idea whatsoever if we’ll be allowed in without some shitty American-style visa hassle […]