Whom Would That Leave?

Clever stuff from Jeremy Corbyn, to divide the House of Commons on whether or not to hold a second referendum. That would fail even on a Labour free vote. It is time to put the proponents back in their box, and this is how to do it.

Corbyn was derided as an old loon when he called, even if wrongly, for a No Deal Brexit to be taken off the table. But there is no such reaction to the news that 40 Ministers have threatened to resign unless that happened. Meaning, of course, that it has already happened.

Philip Hammond has openly given that assurance to the Conservative Party's financial backers, while the Liberal Democrats' undertaking not to support another Motion of No Confidence is explicable only by Theresa May's having given that same assurance to her former Cabinet colleague, Vince Cable. Effectively, the Lib Dems are now supporters of May's deal, and they will doubtless vote that way when next it comes before the House, as, somehow, it will.

Meanwhile, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries and, crucially, Sammy Wilson are all among those who now say that they would support May's deal rather than risk No Brexit. Notice that there are still people who fear that there might be No Brexit. But from the CBI and the Chambers of Commerce to the Lib Dems, there is no one who still fears that there might be No Deal. Well, no one apart from a few Labour MPs from the olden days, plus their little-read media courtiers. And nobody cares about them.

To any diehards in her own party, May's deal may not be saleable by her. But it will be saleable by Michael Gove. Also saleable by Michael Gove is Michael Gove. Whom would that leave, so to speak? Only the people who wanted to be EFTA because they did not understand what it was, a holding centre for countries whose politicians have not yet persuaded enough of their voters to accept EU membership, and who also wanted to be in NAFTA, as the American paleoconservative movement and Canadian High Tories need to keep in mind when evaluating these ostensible kindred spirits.

Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. I will stand for this seat of North West Durham, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.