National unity

I am catching up on news of yesterday in Brexit, and to be honest, things are even less clear now than they were before.

However:

May called on Corbyn for talks on how to progress beyond this point, possibly leading to a soft Brexit. This is one take, but trying to get meaning from May's rambling addresses to the nation is tough. It could also be a ploy to force wavering Ministers to her deal, which she still is pushing.

April 12, which is the new Brexit day, is no time to prepare for no deal. So, May wants an extension to May 22nd, in order to prepare and try to get some kind of agreement in Parliament for her WA, or another way forward.

Such a move, that will rely on Labour support for the PM, can't but seriously undermine the Conservative Party, and lead to a permanent spit. With Brexit it is about belief, if it isn't working its because you don't believe in it enough. Like the Easter Bunny. And, most Brexiteers have their own personal view on what a perfect Brexit should be. Many now realise that anything other than no deal means serious compromise.

In fact, even no deal will require compromise, as the UK would have to accept the EU's terms on even staring talks, let along agreeing anything.

Last week, the Privvy Council, were shown a presentation by a member of the Government on what the effects of no deal would be on the country. They were horrified. But, can't reveal to the country what those effects would be, nor who the member of the Government was.

The actual effects of Brexit are a secret.

In line with the Brexiteers, Remainers and moderates in the Commons all have their preferred alternative to no deal, so when the IV came round, they just voted for what they wanted, and rejected most of the others. Rather than tick each one "they could live with".

The obvious conclusion is that whatever happens, most MPs and people are going to be unhappy. The questions is should we all be unhappy either in or out of the EU at the end? THe harder the Brexit the worse the atmosphere in the country will be, and having this national debate is going to be difficult, but doing it with food, medicine and fuel shortages is going to lead to unrest.

Anything other than remaining is going to lead to a change in the status of NI, the backstop will either be a requirement of the WA or as a prerequisite for starting talks post no deal. Face that reality and the choices are really stark.

NI has had no functioning government since the start of 2017, Unionists and Republicans cannot agree how to break the impasse. The UK Government might have to impose Direct Rule, meaning no elected officials making decisions. Imagine this happening at the same time as the backstop coning into effect, or a hard border with Ireland, and there is trouble. Trouble.