Thread by @NvOndarza

Watched the #Brexit proceedings from a distance today.

Beyond all the sound and fury, my main impression from today is that sadly the probability of no deal has risen signficantly, and UK-EU relations are very likely to turn sour.

First, Theresa May has clearly reneged on the deal she negotiated, and lost more trust on the way. If there was one way to prove that a legally binding backstop was necessary, the UK governments walkover its previous commitment ranging back from December 2017 provided one.

Second, while the House of Commons today did vote against a no deal scenario, the majority against a no deal #Brexit was not only very slim, the House also rejected all other workable compromises. This is not enough to stop the merciless logic of no deal.

Third, the vote for 'alternative arrangements' to the Northern Ireland was unspecific, with the ERG explicitly reserving the right to vote against any deal May would bring back from Brussels and MPs voted for it knowingly this had to be rejected by the EU-27.

Fourth, while I am all for the EU keeping an open mind and testing all options, the mandate from the House of Commons thus neither provides an answer how to solve the NI border question nor any incentive for the EU to compromise.

Finally, most worryingly, Theresa May and the Tory MPs supported this approach knowing full well that while this created party unity, it made the Brexit process even harder.

Cynically, the only thing it achieves is an attempt to shift blame for no deal #Brexit from UK to EU-27

Much quicker, and more eloquent then me, @anandMenon1 comes to the same conclusion: "Though parliament rejected no deal, we are now closer to it than ever"

theguardian.com/commentisfree/…