Last week, Prime Minister Theresa May revealed the new Brexit deal she had made with the EU. Days later, several Cabinet members had resigned, and May’s Premiership hangs on the line.
Last week, Prime Minister Theresa May revealed the new Brexit deal she had made with the EU. Days later, several Cabinet members had resigned, and May’s Premiership hangs on the line. It appears that no one, not even the Prime Minister, has any idea what will happen next.
When May submitted her Brexit deal to her cabinet, it was an open secret that it would be unpopular. It was very much a ‘Soft Brexit’, meaning that the UK would maintain a close relationship with the EU. It would protect the Good Friday Agreement by keeping Northern Ireland in the EU. It was not popular with the hard-line Brexiteers. After May’s deal revelation, she submitted to her Cabinet who, in accordance with the rules, voted unanimously to approve the bill. So far so good; all that was left was to get Parliament to agree.
A Few Last Minute Hiccups
May’s deal was all set to go until at the last minute several of her Cabinet Ministers resigned, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Yes, not only is there a specific office for handling Brexit, but even he could not stand it anymore. Saying the deal was filled with “fatal flaws”, Raab was also joined by Cabinet Minister Esther McVey, as well as Junior Ministers Suella Braverman and Shailesh Vara.
Just When it Could Not Get Worse
May, in an attempt to save face, went to Parliament to defend the deal. What she did not expect was to be literally laughed at. After a humiliating response, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted a ‘Motion of No Confidence’. If it passes, May will lose what little control of Parliament she has left and probably the support of her own party. It very well could cost her her Premiership.
Where are we now? Well, we have a Brexit deal that no one likes and probably no one in Parliament will vote for and the deadline fast approaching, as well as a Prime Minister who is likely not to stay Prime Minister for very long.