Thread by @jonworth

Please, can we just take a shortcut to the end of this never-ending Brexit cycle?

🛑 sending May or Ministers to Brussels to get something or other
🛑 the idea that the Withdrawal Agreement can be opened
🛑 the delusion that the Backstop can be changed

None of that works

The fundamentals are clear by now.

OPT1️⃣- No Deal Brexit
Who wants it?
A few dozen Tory crazies

Can they get it?
It's the default, but probably not - there's no majority for it in the Commons

Is it sensible?
No

OPT2️⃣- May's Brexit Deal (Hard Brexit)
Who wants it?
A rump of Tories in the middle of that party

Can they get it?
No. It lost by 230 votes. Minor amendments to it aren't going to be enough, &🇪🇺won't change Withdrawal Agreement

Sensible?
It's messy, but less bad than No Deal

OPT3️⃣ - Corbyn's Softer Brexit
(as per 7 Feb letter)
Who wants it?
Some of Labour & some Tories around Boles

Can they get it?
V unlikely. May can't accept permanent Customs Union. More Tories would oppose this than oppose May's Deal

Sensible?
OK economically foolish politically

So 🇬🇧 needs some other way out...

OPT4️⃣- Extend Article 50
Who wants it?
A pretty wide coalition of MPs, Lab and some Con

Can they get it?
At the end of next week, probably

Is it sensible?
Better than No Deal. But it's not a *solution*

OPT5️⃣- General Election
Who wants it?
No Tories do. Labour would love it, but hasn't got the numbers

Can they get it?
May has gambled on an election before. Might she again, as only way out?

Is it sensible?
No. What would parties even say about Brexit in manifestos?

OPT6️⃣- #PeoplesVote
Who wants it?
Cross party support, but not a majority of MPs

Can they get it?
If all of the other options above fail, then perhaps

Is it sensible?
It can avoid No Deal, there's public support for it, it keeps parties intact

OPT7️⃣- Rescind Article 50
Who wants it?
Pretty much no one

Can they get it?
You need a Commons vote to do it. Would only work if the country were in very deep crisis

Is it sensible?
Not at the moment. Maybe in mid-March if there's panic

In summary:
OPTIONS 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣clearly don't work. We know that now.

So please, 🇬🇧 politicians, move to 4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣(or even 7️⃣) now.

🇬🇧 has just 50 days left of the #Article50 period.

There is NO TIME TO LOSE!

So *please* get out of the current cycle, and change your thinking!

/ends