Thread by @lewis_goodall

She is not endorsing no deal. PM is going to ask for another extension of A50.

Offering talks with Jeremy Corbyn.

Not about the WA- but on the political declaration. To be discussed before next week.

Says if they cannot agree then they are willing to ask parliament for a decision and "govt will abide by that decision". That is important. She's never said that before.

7 and a half hours of cabinet for a statement which didn't last 7 minutes.

She's trying to put the ball in Corbyn's court.

Big question is now- does Corbyn insist on a ratification referendum?

It will be difficult for him not to do so.

Brexiters will be deeply unhappy about that statement. She has chosen compromise, something she has long eschewed.

I would say that off the back of that the chances of a referendum are going through the roof.

I'd be amazed if some leadership candidates in cabinet don't resign after that.

PM is more likely to get A50 extension after that. Her pitch to the EU is clearly, I'm giving decision making ability to parliament. I'm bringing leader of opp in to see what we can agree on.

In the meantime the Tory party is likely to implode.

What a difference a fortnight makes. No lecturing of MPs, no harrying of parliament. Consensual, solid, calm. May- at last- has finally chosen a side.

The question is- will her cabinet go with her?

Also no plans to bring back her deal as it is.

Parliamentary reality has clearly dawned.

In another sense, on A50 she hasn't actually asked for anything she hasn't already got. If a deal can be passed before next week she would get an extension til May 22nd anyway.

May also taking a big gamble. Her govt has a working majority of six. The ERG could bring down the govt.

Perhaps May reckons that Labour won't table conf vote while talks are ongoing.

And that Tiggers etc won't vote against insulating her a bit.

What has liberated May- that she is going- is also the seeds of the problem with what she is offering Corbyn.

Neither Corbyn nor Labour can be assured whatever they agree will survive a new (ERG) Tory leader. The guarantees will need to be iron clad, prob with referendum.

But the May 22nd deadline is nonsense. It will be longer than that and we will end up contesting EU elections.

And I’m sure she knows that.

I suppose there are two possibilities which explain this change of mind.

One is it’s a trap for Corbyn.

The other is that this is the real May, she realises her time is up and she’s playing for history and given she can’t be removed easily, the Tories can’t stop her.