Who Will Vote for Remain Minus?

As Project Fear 2.0 revs up, I do not believe it an exaggeration to view the differences over the PM’s lousy Brexit Deal as a potential catalyst that could split the Conservative Party for a generation if not for ever.  Almost every manifesto point upon which the hapless Mrs May was elected has been conceded and, of course, there will be more to come over freedom of movement, fishing, and Gibraltar as the negotiations for a future relationship move forward.

I read that the Prime Minister is urging her MPs to talk to their constituents about the deal but the silence from ours, unless I have missed it, is deafening.  In any case, I very much doubt that a significant number of the 30,532 out of 51,639 votes cast in Selby will have changed their mind.  This would surely provide a clear direction to my MP in the future parliamentary vote – or perhaps not since he is now on the Government payroll?

No 10 policy now appears to be trying to sell the deal directly to voters, over the heads of MPs.  These, by the way, are the same voters who, in another breath from the PM, are supposed to be fed up with all the negotiation and just want the Government to get on with it. Meantime, we are told that Government Whips are telling remain supporters that they should vote for the deal or risk a no deal exit whilst, simultaneously, leave supporters are being urged to support the deal or risk an even softer exit.  Presumably, the Whips must hope that the rival camps do not compare notes?

When it comes to the meaningful vote, in a desperate release of damage limitation propaganda, I hear that No 10 are putting it about that if Mrs May loses by, only, less than 100 parliamentary votes then that will be sufficient vindication for her to carry on regardless.  Good grief! I hope my MP votes with his conscience and when he does I urge him to think very carefully at the legacy of bitterness that siding with PM’s deal could leave.  I cannot believe that any rational democrat could vote for this deal on its merits.  A vote in favour will be, blatantly, a vote in support for a hapless and discredited Prime Minister who has made a complete hash of the Brexit negotiation.  That, in conscience, will not be good enough.