Brexiters Have Won - I Hope They Are Happy

Brexiters Should Have The Champagne Out

Well I am not exactly surprised in the sense that it was always going to be virtually impossible to stay in the single market if we left the EU.  I was a bit surprised to hear Theresa May say it so clearly at this stage though. I was expecting that it would be something that would be allowed to emerge during the negotiations so that it was at least plausible to blame the EU.  Instead she has chosen to own it completely.  Well at least that is courageous.  


So this means that we are now in a position where there really is not much room for manoevre and we will probably  basically have to take or leave whatever is offered.  What is offered might not be too bad. I don't think it is in Europe's interest to make life especially difficult for the UK regardless of how annoying they might be finding us.  A poor Britain is of no use to anyone.

So the good news is that we can now begin to see a timetable is beginning to emerge.  If Article 50 is invoked at the end of March, and if we aren't trying to get anything special out of the Europeans then it looks like we will indeed be officially  out of the union by the next election.  

So basicially the hardline Brexiters have got everything they want.  We will be out as quickly as is practical - although we seemed to lose 9 months by delaying invoking the article it doesn't look like there will be any more delays.  They have also won the argument.  There hasn't been much change in the level of support for either side, but the Brexiters still seem to have retained their narrow lead.  And the Conservative Party is now the party of Brexit.   It is very hard to see how they can go to the country on a promise to rejoin the EU.   Given that they also seem to be far and away the strongest political party it looks like we are going to stay out for the foreseeable future.

So they have won.  Their policies are being followed.  I hope they are happy.  I wonder if they are?