By Jack Doyle for the Daily Mail
Theresa May yesterday set out what her Brexit ‘Plan B’ will – or won’t – be. Associate Editor Jack Doyle assesses what she said... and what it means.
Irish Backstop
What she said: ‘We are exploring with members across this House the nature of any movement on the backstop that would secure the support of this House.’
Analysis: Her overtures to opposition parties followed pressure from leading soft Brexiteers in the Cabinet including Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd.
Having found a dead end, she has now moved towards the other faction, led by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who want her to demand concessions from the EU on the controversial backstop which commits the UK to following EU regulations if no trade deal is reached.
Mrs May still needs a solution which she can take to Brussels next week. Many of her Tory critics – including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson – say they want a clear backstop exit date and could then vote for Mrs May’s deal.
But one MP described yesterday as ‘Groundhog Day’ – resembling the position the country was in before Christmas when the Prime Minister pulled the vote on her deal.
Taking No Deal off the table
What she said: ‘You cannot wish away No Deal.’
Analysis: Mrs May confronted head-on those MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, who want ‘No Deal off the table’.
The only way to rule out No Deal is to get a deal through, or to revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU, she
