And Quitters burst with rage.
Better off than we were before?
Nope.
Was it worth it?
The FT says:
"Selling a Brexit deal to the people
By James Blitz
November 7, 2018
Theresa May is desperately hoping that she can sign a Brexit deal with the EU this month. And as the optimism about a UK-EU pact rises in Downing Street, attention is gradually turning to what is likely to be the final Brexit challenge for the PM.
Can she sell her Brexit deal to the British people?
This question is hoving into view for a number of reasons. Last night, a memo was leaked detailing Number 10’s strategy to sell a deal to the British public in the weeks running up to the final vote in parliament.
Mrs May’s advisers have dismissed the document, saying it does not represent the government’s thinking. But the plans listed in the paper, such as getting foreign and business leaders publicly to back the agreement signed with the EU, look like the kind of thing any half-decent Downing Street operation would have to do to make sure public opinion is fully onside.
The other reason why the saleability of Mrs May’s Brexit deal is being discussed is that it is now taking on a final shape. And as that happens, critics are pointing out what a mountain the PM has to climb to convince the public that it is a diplomatic success.
To put it bluntly: Britain is going to have to stay in a standstill transition and then a customs union with the EU until the moment comes (many years hence) when a comprehensive free trade agreement can finally be signed with the EU.
And as to what that comprehensive agreement might look like, the Article 50 treaty and its accompanying political declaration are likely to make no binding promise.
It is not exactly an easy sell. As the pro-European Conservative Dominic Grieve told the BBC yesterday (quoted in Andrew Sparrow’s Guardian blog):
“We are leaving the EU, but we are going to place ourselves in a relationship with the EU where we lose all influence over decision making, and are likely to be subservient to the EU in critical areas about the nature of our future trading relationship with them.”
Of course, there are reasons why Mrs May might well win through in the end. Many MPs will put aside their misgivings and back her pact because they fear the consequences of a slide into “no deal”. Some on the Labour side will fear the wrath of voters if they defy the electorate. Many Britons, whatever their doubts, will back the deal because they simply want an end to the Brexit saga.
But the period between the signing of the deal and the parliamentary vote will be politically treacherous for Mrs May. In parliament and in broadcast interviews, she will repeatedly be asked the question: how is the deal you have signed better than the EU membership we already have?
There is no good answer to this."
