Much of this conference has gone well for Theresa May, and her allies seem pretty happen
BUT three reasons for caution
1. The DUP has escalated their opposition to possible solutions to the backstop today. Arlene Foster saying no to new regulatory checks in the Irish Sea. Sammy Wilson goes further: “no new regulatory borders” between NI and GB
2. Dominic Raab told conference that if the EU tried to “lock us by the back door” on the customs union, the U.K. cd be left with “no choice” but to leave without a deal.
A number of people asking if @JulianSmithUK is about to be sacked or resign
On basis of currently available facts I don’t think so
I also don’t think people are being cynical enough about what just happened because:
1. Julian Smith is being upfront that he wanted to break the pairing system for non maternity pairs. Looking at the public statements of Theresa May, I think she endorses this position. So he won’t have “dont anything wrong” in her eyes other than the Brandon Lewis “mistake”
2. Julian Smith had lots and lots of enemies. It’s a Parliament that must do brexit and the Tories don’t have a majority and the party is at war w/ itself and both sides constantly challenging the PM.
So to an extent this was a inevitable consequence for the holder of this post