As I keep saying - forget the debates on TV...very few people in the conservative establishment be it media, the Conservative Party or business believe in Brexit now.

The debates are phony.

So why are we still doing Brexit?
The answer is simple...& has little to do with Europe.
2/

The answer lies in the way British society is structured.

We have no constitution but what we do have is a ruling establishment that is amongst the most stable in western world - this is the UKs constitution.

The same schools, families, university clubs since centuries.
3/

One thing many Brits dont appreciate:
The Tories are far more infused into society than a European conservative party - these are recent inventions.

The Tories ARE the ruling elite - the CDU is just a party.

& Brexit is not just a policy - its a reflection of culture.
4/

A brexit U-turn doesn't put in doubt Conservatism - it puts in doubt the ruling conservative elite.
Its not political - its psycho-cultural.

You may as well put in doubt the Queen.

This is why I see important people I know who are conservative remainers falling into line.
5/

A calculation is taking place across the establishment:

Whats worse:

The collapse in the conservative elite's position which will likely lead to huge upheaval...or the damage they know Brexit will cause?

Conservatives are split.
But the debate...it remains hidden.
6/

With Corbyn as Labour leader, Conservatives swung behind Brexit as the alternative was, in their view, too horrific for them to risk.

But with Starmer, & continuing collapse in unionism many conservatives realise the scales have tipped.

Johnson is no fool - he knows this...
7/

Johnson cannot row back now - all he can do is remain PM as long as possible so his hands aren't dirty when a change has to be made.

What's his plan?
Its to go down in history as Brexit PM without the pain it'll cause. He needs🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿indy to be postponed as long as possible..
8/

If Brexit is percieved as too economically painful or dangerous to the union Johnson will be dumped.

But with Conservatives in charge there can be no repudiation on Brexit - it will have to be discreet.

Can it be done now?
Don't think so - not enough time.

But next year...
9/

So UK post January will be at an interesting point where Conservative Party & Boris Johnson no longer have the same interests.

Under a poor economic Brexit - Johnson will be eased out.

So a prediction:

No deal or bad deal means Johnson will go...and soon.
Before 2022.
10/

So..
No deal or bad deal = Johnson out 2021
A soft Concession deal = Johnson's entire project discredited but Conservatives can pivot

So what does Johnson choose?

No good option left now.

But I will tell you this...
12/

In a choice between Johnson & risking conservative hegemony & the union..Johnson is gone.

..& if that means rejoining EU in 2030, they'll do it.

Saving the ruling conservative elite - "Britain's constitution" - is the main thing now...after all its lasted centuries.

/ends

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More from @nicktolhurst

11 Nov
PREDICTION

UK will drop all barriers to european immigration to UK next year.

You think this sounds crazy, right?
Well here’s why...
2/

It’s always worth looking at things which “pass under the radar” - especially when big events are happening elsewhere.

So what’s happened is this:
Over the course of the year the UK govt believes 800 000 mostly foreign born people have left UK.

Think about that figure....
3/

It suits govt to believe this is due entirely to COVID but this seems implausible.
But even if true it doesn’t make much difference.

This is in fact at a level that is equivalent to an historical episode of war depopulation.

It’s huge.
But we haven’t noticed cause of COVID.
Read 10 tweets
11 Nov
+US UPDATE+

The leading 4 civilian appointed members of the US Defence establishment was fired by Donald Trump over the last 48 hours.
2/

There include (but are not limited to):

The Defence Secretary
The top Pentagon Policy official
The Defence Intelligence Chief
The Defence Secretary’s Chief of Staff

This does seem rather excessive.
3/

There seems to be some reports of aides/supporters of Michael Flynn being brought into the intelligence/defence establishment by Trump this week.

Looking for confirmation.
Read 7 tweets
11 Nov
+UPDATE+

Biden transition team provides read-outs of the 4 countries Joe Biden has calls with post election confirmation.

While these are traditionally kept as bland subjects rather than details - it’s worth noting importance Biden team attaches to N. Ireland & GFA agreement.
2/

Strangely though..

...This is the one subject that the UK govt omitted from its read-out of the call with Joe Biden published on UK govt website.

gov.uk/government/new…
3/

In political-diplomatic terms it’s likely of no importance.

But I’m sure it won’t have escaped the
Americans’ notice that the UK govt chose to misrepresent the very first interaction with the new president.
Read 5 tweets
10 Nov
+UPDATE+

Boris Johnson’s congratulatory message to Joe Biden..

...still contained Donald Trump’s name from an earlier message they’d prepared assuming Trump had won.
2/

The image was hastily edited which is why it is rather stilted syntax but Johnson’s team also forgot to take out the original edit.
3/

Quite a few people saw this simply by lightening the colour tone.

Which is why you’re seeing this go round twitter right now with different colours.

Johnson’s Office obviously thought by toning it black they’d be fine.
Read 5 tweets
9 Nov
I’m so tired of this revisionism.

I campaigned for soft Brexit when it was clear we we were leaving.

The effort dissolved when it became clear Conservatives & media would never accept it. Even if May could force something thru - which she didn’t.

Now apparently its our fault.
2/

Its as if @prospect_clark has completely forgotten the endless "There's no thing as soft Brexit" debates, articles, speeches.

I like Tom - but when people come out with ths guff I truly start to wonder if they've actually been present in UK the last 4 years.
3/

Indeed for a large chunk of the period 2016-19 (& the reason I gave up on soft Brexit) was much Conservative party/media were actually more hostile to soft Brexit than many of them were to 2nd referendum.

Soft Brexit was constantly denigrated as the worst of both worlds.
Read 4 tweets
7 Nov
+UPDATE+

CNN calls election for Joe Biden.

Over.
2/

Other networks are expected to follow suit within minutes.

Over.
3/

In official terms this means Biden now referred to as President-elect.

Election officially over.
Read 4 tweets

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