Since the referendum of June 2016 returned a narrow win for ‘Leave’, Brexit has dominated UK politics. That vote caused David Cameron to resign and Theresa May to assume office. As a result, dealing with the issue has been May’s main challenge as PM.
Now, it appears that Brexit will also cut her reign as Prime Minister short. And even her closest allies in the press are predicting it.
Shambles
Over the last months, it has become increasingly obvious that Brexit negotiations are not working. This flies in the face of statements made by Brexit team member and Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox. Speaking in July, Fox said:
The free trade agreement that we will have to come to with the European Union should be one of the easiest in human history
Then there was the matter of expense. As recently as September, Brexit Secretary David Davis stated that the idea of a £50bn ‘divorce settlement’ was “nonsense” and “completely made up”. Yet just two months later, in November, it was accepted that this sum was accurate.
Davis also appears to have lied to parliament over Brexit impact reports, which his department was meant to have conducted. They now seem to have never existed.
Has the government done 'impact assessments' of #Brexit on the UK economy?
"No" – @DavidDavisMP, 6th Dec 2017
"They're in excruciating detail" – @DavidDavisMP, 25th October 2017More 👉 https://t.co/qUUM5AFq9r pic.twitter.com/XRe1ssxgZc
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 7, 2017
Ireland
May’s minority government is propped up by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), but Ireland provides the latest barrier. Having caved in to the EU on expense, May’s team offered a deal on 4 December. Yet the deal was blocked by her own allies in the DUP. They were unhappy with its effects on the Irish internal border.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has responded by saying he expects a new deal to be offered within 24 hours. In other words, May must settle the Irish issue first. Without that, progress with the EU is impossible. And commentators from both sides doubt her ability to deliver on this.
Fears May’s govt could collapse as early as next week without a Brexit deal. @TelegraphNews says Johnson, Davis & Gove ready to act in case of coup agst May. 2 Putin puppets & 1 liar. I feel sick to the pit of my stomach & mourn for the future of the UK. https://t.co/2eeYa5nf2R
— Gina Miller (@thatginamiller) December 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/YesBrexit/status/938669370989039618
May’s lack of friends extends further. Even staunch Conservative media partners like The Telegraph are writing obituaries for her premiership.
Tomorrow's Daily Telegraph front page: May will fall without deal, warns EU #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/cxbUmsxqTF
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 6, 2017
Borrowed time
The track record of May and her team has been disastrous on Brexit so far. They have lied, dithered and bungled. Unless that changes dramatically, it appears her time is up.
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Featured image via screengrab