This tweet (below) by Alastair Burt, minister of state at the Foreign Office, is interesting. He fires a warning shot across the bows of the ERG Brexiteers. If they vote down Mrs May's deal, remain leaning MPs in The House (the majority) would no longer feel obliged to follow the consensus of accepting the result of the 2016 referendum. I assume it's intended to bring the ERG into line but it may have more far reaching consequences.
Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Govt and the EU is voted down by purist Brexiteers, do not be surprised if consensus on accepting the result of the Referendum by Remain voting MPs breaks down. Parliament will not support no deal. https://t.co/dx5CBigNDs— Alistair Burt (@AlistairBurtUK) November 17, 2018
I suppose it might offer many MPs, those who support remaining in the EU but represent leave voting constituencies, an honourable way out. It might just give them the excuse they've been looking for.
They could fairly claim to have voted for the deal but it was rejected by the Brexiteers and the vote lost. To avoid a catastrophic no-deal outcome they could then argue the only solution to the impasse was to ask the people in a second vote. It's a convincing narrative isn't it? Burt says Parliament will not support no deal and I believe this is true. There is even less support for this option than the deal - and that seems hopeless.
In the circumstances would the ERG swallow the Withdrawal Agreement as written? They are absolutely fanatical and aren't capable of listening - or thinking. The tweet will probably have no effect on them whatsoever. Yesterday Marcus Fysh, MP for Yeovil and former banker (no, banker) was on TV accusing PM of "surrender" in the negotiations and claiming her deal would leave the UK "a colony of the EU". Can anyone see them, however reluctantly voting for such a deal? I really don't think so. Looking like paper tigers is not their style at all.
Perhaps the prospect of another vote is not as unlikely as some people think.
Forget those who claim it would take too long to arrange a new referendum, or that it cannot be done. If parliament demands it and the EU agree to it, as I am sure they would, time will be found. The transition period gives us 21 months during which nothing will change and this would give us the chance to see if this insane Brexit really is the will of the people.
