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Why it's relevant that @RoryStewartUK has experience of working in countries where constitutional conventions are weak or ignored altogether. Thread.
1. Pro Brexit extremists have exploited on the complacency of the British governing class to propose ever more outrageous ideas. The political establishment laughs them off as unrealistic until it's almost too later. Viz -
2. Leaving the EU at all, leaving the single market, no deal, proroguing parliament, etc. The extremists set the terms of the agenda, and it becomes the new pole of debate versus the status quo.
3. This moves the middle ground in their direction, and moderates with them.
4. Stewart understands the need to set himself up as an opposing pole, in this case by setting up a rival parliament (admittedly an idea first noted here: conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/…)
5. This allows the moderates to split the difference and say they're neither with Johnson nor Stewart, but to defend the status quo.
6. Sometimes the only way to defend the status quo is to challenge it from the other side. ENDS
