Thread by @pmdfoster

Theresa May, to quote a Tory peer to me, is the "mummified corpse" of a Prime Minister. For #Brexit this is a problem 1/

Europe would rather have May than Boris or other blue-sky Brexiteer to negotiate with but... 2/

As thing stand they cannot trust she has authority to negotiate. Boris has destroyed that by publicly undermining her. /3

EU notes May held Florence lines at conference, but asks if she can enforce them in negotiations? Or she she wills be there by Xmas /4

And if May goes, and is replaced by Boris or Davis, then we must presume Olly Robbins goes to. Will he be there by Christmas? 5/

So when Robbins enters talks next week. Or May enters EUCO leaders summit in Oct 19-20 they are both wounded animals. /6

Can a wounded animal really lead the herd?

Only sacking Boris could restore her authority in Brussels

How long after that wd May last?/7

The uncertainly would persist. So either way May is finished.

And yet settling Cabinet fight over Brexit will be bloody and chaotic. /8

Corpse or chaos. That's the choice now.

With the #Brexit clock ticking the muddle-through feels over. 9/ENDS