What's the summer got in store for Brexit?
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After last week's Parliamentary fun, there's a definite feel of schools-out around Brexit
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No.10 has pushed amendments to one side, and is now in general roll-out of the White Paper mode, both domestically and across EU
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Line is that amendments don't change the Chequers plan in any fundamental way, so actually there is a consensus behind it, so let's roll
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The summer recess should mean less machinating in Westminster, although despite sniping will continue through until the party conferences
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The big challenge is how to pivot from White Paper to Art.50:
Former doesn't offer any concrete plan for unlocking remaining issues in latter, esp Irish dimension
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Former doesn't offer any concrete plan for unlocking remaining issues in latter, esp Irish dimension
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There are ideas out there (eg @SamuelMarcLowe's), but no line at from No.10 on how it'll handle this
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Thus Q of whether COM unhappiness with White Paper will still allow enough space to advance Art.50, while keeping CON backbench on-board
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Studious lack of comment on this points either to strong message discipline (aided by distraction over future relationship), or lack of ideas
Genuinely unsure which is more likely explanation
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Genuinely unsure which is more likely explanation
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However, most important point is not to loose momentum over summer. Stasis will open up many more points of attack, so in all sides' interests to keep this thing moving
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We shall see
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