For all its faults, May’s Brexit deal might be the best option Leave MPs have

Several cabinet ministers have publicly backed a series of indicative votes in the Commons on the various Brexit options. I understand why, but they’re wrong: this approach is both messy and misguided. The best thing for MPs is to spend their Christmas break thinking carefully. Those who have criticised Theresa May’s Brexit deal should carefully think through their opposition. It’s my view that reports of the death of May’s deal are greatly exaggerated. It’s obvious there are only now three real options when it comes to Brexit: Leave with no deal; Leave with May’s deal; or, don’t Leave.

Every possible path falls into one of these three boxes. Managed no deal (whatever that is or isn’t) is a way of dressing up no deal with a nice bow. ‘Norway Plus’ entails leaving with May’s deal and seeking to add commitments to building a closer future relationship. Labour’s Brexit policy, if it has any coherence at all, would still require a backstop.