Sam Gyimah’s resignation shows the limitations of Project Fear

Theresa May has sought to frame her deal as a battle between the forces of common sense and wreckers – either Brexiteers or Remainers. Sam Gyimah’s resignation complicates this narrative due to the type of politican he is. Not a firebreathing Eurosceptic allergic to the idea of compromise, not an Adonis-style hyperventilater who never recovered from losing the referendum. He’s a moderate, who tried his best to reconcile himself to Theresa May’s deal – and a young MP who, unlike her, will be around to deal with the consequences.

She had hoped that the longer people had to reflect on her deal, the more people would see her deal as a sensible middle way. Instead, MPs have come to see it as a trap that Britain will struggle to escape given that we will be in the EU system with no voice, no vote and having handed over the £39bn and regulatory control of Northern Ireland.