BREXIT
Principal parties internally divided
The argument about a vote on the Theresa May Brexit plan has faded into the background. Firstly, because the Prime Minister continues to try to negotiate with the EU to obtain attractive concessions, which means MPs don’t know what they would be voting on. Secondly, the principal British political parties have fallen into factions, seeing unprecedented internal division. At present, the bulk of the core Brexit activity is taking place in discussions in corridors and offices of the parliament buildings. Rebel pro-European tories, led by Oliver Letwin, have opened negotiations with Keir Starmer, Shadow Brexit Secretary, to join forces against May and seek a pact that guarantees the country remains in the customs union and the European market, the main goal of the Labour party. This dialogue has not pleased the pro-Brexit conservative rebels, on the opposite of the same party. Strange times call for strange allies.