Everyone who hates Chequers – a beginner’s guide

In August, this author teased Dalibor Rohac, who wrote in the Washington Post: ‘Theresa May is the world’s most underrated leader.’ Since, Mr S has given it some thought, and sends his apologies.

Why? Because Rohac was right – Mrs May is a ‘genius’. In just two months, she has brought unity to Western politics. Everyone hates the Chequers agreement. Since the plan was agreed in July, reams of political figures have spoken out against it. This is Steerpike’s encyclopedia of enmity; a record of those who have denounced May’s proposed negotiating strategy.

Michel Barnier

The EU’s chief negotiator doesn’t simply hate Mrs May’s plan; he thinks parts of it are ‘illegal’, ‘insane’, and ‘an invitation to fraud’. According to Mr Barnier, accepting Chequers would be ‘the end of the single market and the European project.’

His comments have upset Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Yesterday, the South Staffordshire MP offered a customarily puerile retort, telling ITV: ‘Michel Barnier doesn’t know a lot about British politics.’