As if Mrs May didn't have enough problems, with the EU set to confirm on Friday that the talks are at deadlock, today we learn (HERE) that the withdrawal bill is to be delayed over fears that Tory rebels will vote against it. Brexit is beginning to look like Maastricht in reverse. With the Maastricht treaty it was Eurosceptics who harried the government for weeks as John Major tried to get the bill through parliament. Now it's the Europhiles attempting to delay and block a government bill.
Major had a small majority to work with in the House but Theresa May has none and relies for support on the DUP. It is clear that the government is worried there are more than enough rebels to derail the bill as it stands. During the delay the government will review over 300 amendments and 54 new clauses, some with heavyweight backers like Ken Clarke and Dominic Grieve. They are attempting to block a no deal exit and limit the use of so-called Henry VIII powers. If they succeed in getting a no deal exit off the table, Mrs May will have even less room for manoeuvre than she had before.
There is talk of "multiple rebellions" with some amendments gaining signatures from 10 and even 13 Conservative MPs according to Sky News (HERE).
No doubt the EU will be watching with interest. She may have no option but to make further concessions to get talks underway and accept all the union acquis during any transition period. The EU know she will either have to leave without any deal, accept whatever they offer or remain in the EU. Another referendum will be needed for the latter otherwise there will be civil war. And only a decisive result would shut Farage and the Brexiteers up - at least for a few years.
Apart from all of this the government's plans to roll out universal credit, it's flagship welfare reform, are running into serious opposition. There are fears the roll out will cause severe hardship to those on welfare. Landlords are apparently refusing to rent properties to those on universal credit. It may even be another poll tax fiasco.
