A year ago, those who thought Brexit could be stopped were seen by mainstream opinion as deluded. Both major parties were committed to executing Brexit. The BBC used 'when' not 'if' the UK leaves the EU as a matter of policy. Nobody had heard of a #PeoplesVote / #FinalSayForAll.
We've got a long way to go, and there are still endless obstacles - political, technical, diplomatic, legal - to stopping Brexit. We'll need to rely on the goodwill of EU27, and keep working our arses off to sell it to the UK public. We may not even be able to avert it.
But the shift in the last year shows that it is possible. 'Nobody is ruling out remain as an option' may seem guarded and noncommittal, but watch the video and listen to the response. Neither look or sound that to me.
This does indeed look and feel like a significant moment.
A quick thread on the two points here: 1) a referendum on the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration damages democracy, and 2) it would encourage a descent into populism. Both reasonable concerns. Both are, I think, wrong though, and for closely linked reasons. 1/
On 1) as @davidallengreen (who is against a ref on the deal for other reasons, some of which I disagree with) has pointed out many times, and pointed out again yesterday, a referendum can be democratic or irreversible, but not both. 2/ jackofkent.com/2018/10/why-re…
And it would be a referendum. If the 52% are still the 52%, the UK would still leave the EU. If they are not the 52% anymore, but 48%, or 45%, or 35%, then the UK would otherwise be leaving the EU at a point at which the majority were against it doing so. 3/
Are people still writing to their MPs on Brexit and the need for a #FinalSay/#Peoplesvote? If not, we should be. MPs get mail/emails on an endless variety of issues, and if their postbag is not dominated by opposition to Brexit they won't feel the pressure to act. 1/
I know some people are, and I know people have and have got no reply so it seems pointless to do it again, but it really isn't. It needs to be sustained and widespread to get through, but MPs genuinely take notice of this. 2/
Also, when MPs see opinion polls, they always think their constituency is different and an exception if what they see in their postbag/inbox and on the doorstep doesn't chime with the polls. 3/
Lot of conflicting views on what’s being called Brexit “hell week” this week. This is the latest I’ve seen, and looks like things are not progressing as fast as some predicted. 1/
Leads one to suspect that the DUP have been on the line to Number 10 again on the backstop 2/
And, if this report is correct, it looks like May is resisting the reported EU27 proposal of a Political Declaration with a blah-blah commitment to a close relationship, but only the options should UKGov red lines move in the future detailed. 3/
Imagine a person so filled with hatred that they would listen to @CakeWatchCast solely to find something to fill a vile message to a fellow human with.
Now imagine a govt telling them they are winners & in the right, and that the people they are abusing are the losers & wrong.
Now imagine a population where few people care enough to speak up. That would rather not stick their head above the parapet. That is just glad it’s not them getting the abuse, and will stay silent as long as that’s the case.
Now go on to think about a National broadcast media regulated by statute, that gives a platform constantly to those that deliberately spread this message.
I had not thought of that for the Political Declaration. Allows for substance, but still allows muddying by UKGov on the likelihood of getting agreement in its favour.
Not a blind, but a one-eye-covered Brexit. Objects are in view, but no sense of how close or far away they are.
On the other hand, it could lay bare the fundamental disagreements, and those who genuinely still think the EU27 are bluffing on key issues are surely disproportionately located in the crackpot ERG faction.
How reassured would Parliament be by May telling them that the disagreements are not fundamental and she believes they can be agreed?
Wait for friction at the border. It’ll be catastrophic for Florists. 70% of flowers in the UK come from the Netherlands, and are delivered next morning to maximise shelf and vase life. Every hour of delay is an hour off that. 1/
The overwhelming majority of florists are small, local businesses employing only 1 or 2 people. There are no cost-cuts they can make, and the proposition of selling a non-necessity that lasts less time for a higher price will make them hard to sustain. 2/
In addition to the increase in costs from GBP’s devaluation, Florent, the trade association, predict another 14% increase in costs from leaving the SM/CU. Here’s more information from @AlynSmith. 3/ thenational.scot/news/16135092.…