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At every stage of the Brexit process, Brexiters seem to have control of the narrative. I'm both impressed and appalled by their stance; but more importantly, at a loss to understand the way in which remainers have ceded ground. 1/
The choice ahead has been clear for a while: it is to leave with a deal, to leave with no deal, or to remain. Within 'leave with a deal' there are a variety of possibilities. 2/
Brexiters have worked to push the deal towards a 'harder' Brexit. Single market membership, even customs union membership are 'not leave' and so not acceptable. The backstop is an EU trap. 3/
If they don't get the 'hard' Brexit deal they want, they have no qualms about leaving the EU with no deal. Economic analyses of the consequences of no deal are decried as project fear. Recollections of what was promised in 2016 are rather hazy. 4/
The point is that they are prepared to 'go WTO', and prepared to present this (against all the evidence) as if it were the will of the people. 5/
Remainers have taken a very different stance. They too don't like the WA: the loss of free movement, the vague nature of the PD. But, in large numbers they are prepared to back it (in order to avoid no deal, and in order to 'respect' the 2016 vote). 6/
They endorse a people's vote between a Brexit they dislike (thus lending it extra legitimacy) and remain. They do not argue for remain; instead making a weaker proxy case for a PV, or for an extension. 7/
The result of all this, is that leaving with no deal has come to be seen as a realistic possibility, while revoking A50 is seen as being beyond the pale. That it has become accepted that Brexit means that free movement will end. 8/
I am not at all clear why this has happened. Brexiters are, clearly, better at seizing control of the narrative. They also seem more committed to their preferred outcomes (where are all the defences of free movement?). 9/
But... they seem to be failing to secure anything like a majority in Parliament for their preferred course of action. This offers a huge chance for remainers to reset the debate. All I see is chance after chance simply being wasted. 10/
I think that it is time to make the case for revoke (see thread). But I'm open to other ideas of how to change the narrative, and influence the choices MPs will be making in the week ahead. 11/11
