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So I'm speaking on the Brexit and Parliament later this morning for @CCC_Research @ourdynamicearth. Some thoughts so far on this:
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Essentially there appear to be a number of tensions that are producing gridlock in Westminster
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The first I've tweeted about before, namely the collective action problem that everyone is weak, but not so weak as can be ignored, meaning no one has an incentive to give way
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The second is that while Brexit is composed of issues that cut across the chamber, it is still being pursued in a party political manner. The tribalism of those parties makes it all the harder to find common ground or build majorities for any course of action
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The third is that No.10 is determined to push on with its 'our deal or no-deal' strategy, despite a lack of acceptance by MPs that this is the limit to their choices
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This last matters because it means No.10 isn't laying groundwork should it need to pivot, while MPs believe they have more freedom of manoeuvre than might be the case, all of which raises the chances of a mis-step and an accidental no-deal
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Crucially, pulling this together, there remains only limited understanding that there are no cost-free options available to MPs at this stage: still too many unicorns trotting around SW1
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This matters not only for the immediate set of decisions that need to be taken, but also because it suggests that whatever the outcome, it is very unlikely to be a stable and resilient resolution
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That means more problems/arguments once we get into the next phase, of building a new UK-EU relationship
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Tomorrow isn't going to address even a small part of these tensions, so expect more of this kind of thing
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