Theresa May has united Westminster. Right across the political spectrum, politicians and journalists agree that her televised statement from No. 10 last night was an epic misjudgement, that seeking to pin public blame on MPs for the failure to agree a Brexit outcome has made it even less likely that they will now reach such an agreement. The PM’s awful statement, it is said, has driven away the very MPs she needs to pass her Withdrawal Agreement next week.
Consensus like that deserves scrutiny, because it’s often a cloak under which people can hide inconvenient facts.
Consider the assertion that May has alienated MPs who will not now vote for her deal. Taken at face value, that means that there are MPs who would actually vote for the deal, but will not do so because the tone and language of May’s awful statement has upset them.
Think about that: there are members of parliament who will change their vote on the most consequential choice of their political lives not because of any issue of substance or fact, but because the Prime Minister said things they didn’t like.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in