May has bowed to the inevitable in a desperate bid to fend off catastrophic defeat – and 48 letters.
It’s always the Implementation Period, but never Christmas.
Norway-to-Canada was one thing. Norway-plus-the-backstop is another. It is inferior even to the Prime Minister’s proposed deal.
They can’t both be right – at least, not if an administration headed by the Prime Minister holds office. Could she please clear the matter up?
And No Deal is now activists’ most favoured option of all. Views are hardening as the endgame looms into sight.
She looks increasingly like the captive of pro-Remain cross-party MPs working together against the pro-Leave referendum mandate.
The unwritten rules usually apply. The legislature doesn’t make foolish demands. And the executive bows to the legislature. But these are not normal times.
This is a lamentable background against which to campaign for the deal. If the survey is right, most members have faith in neither it nor her.
And roughly a third believe that they should back it. That’s a platform for the Prime Minister to build on – but she has little time left in which to change hearts and minds.