Thread by @pmdfoster

So 57 Brexiteers abstained tonight, which - if you're a mad optimist - maybe creates space to ditch the Malthouse nonsense.

I CANNOT understand how @theresa_may allowed herself to be played on this one. Once again allowed ERG to set unattainabel bar. /1

@theresa_may There is talk of EU 'concession' - something that Cox says convinces him backstop is temporary - but ask yourself why the EU thinks that gets the deal done? Because it pretty clearly wont. /2

@theresa_may Then ask your self why the EU would ask @campaignforleo to make a politically painful concession (having backed him to the hilt) if it doesn't do the job. That way they still haven't got a deal, and they've asked Irish to take one for the team for nothing. /3

@theresa_may @campaignforleo Risk for @theresa_may is that unless she walks this into a more realistic space, she'll be at March EUCO begging for a concession and the only argument she has for EU giving it to her is the clock. "It'll be different this time". Well, how different? 118 votes? /4

@theresa_may @campaignforleo Perhaps between now and then May can walk it back into a reasonable place where a final push at March EUCO does the job.

But if EU says 'no' (a la Salzburg/Dec EUCO) then the choice becomes 'no deal' or an A50 extension. Risk of June 'no deal' then surely rises. ENDS