Thread by @Usherwood

I've noticed that it's been several days since I even tried to pass comment on Brexit. Indeed, I struggle to think of a period of this length since #EUref when there has been so little to say

1/

That's despite being just over a week out from #EUelections2019 , being into the 5th week of CON-LAB talks and the UK finally asking about changes to the Political Declaration

2/

But none of this is addressing the fundamental blockages in the process

3/

No majority exists in Commons for any of the 3 options facing the UK: leaving with a deal; leaving without a deal; or not leaving

And no majority exists for any of these in the general public either

4/

#EUelections2019 will not resolve this, as all sides will win enough seats to claim vindication. Even if one did, there's no automatic transmission to recasting the Commons

5/

The talks remain a bizarre mix of detail and stasis: the main impression is still one of passing the time through the elections and of then being able to blame the other side for a failure to agree

6/

And @OllyRobbins trip to BRX will only confirm that the EU27 are happy to review the Pol Dec (and nothing else), which still cannot provide the guarantees sought by either CON backbench or LAB frontbench

7/

In sum, it's shaping up to be a long, hot summer of thumb-twirling, followed by a mad frenzy of activity in October

/end