Edward Heath allowed a cross party vote to get in

There is a perfect sense of symmetry that the way into the EU should also be the way out: namely through cross party consensus. In 1973, when I was still just a twinkle in my father’s eye, Edward Heath allowed a cross party vote on Britain entering into the EU. Party politics were momentarily placed to one side and Britain was in. Now Theresa May formally offers a cross party approach to Jeremy Corbyn to get us out.  See the details here that Adam reported on at the time. It is worth following the link if only to see the sight of Jeremy Corbyn dressed as Obi Wan Kenobe.

The GBP has rallied on the news as Theresa May tried to ‘break the logjam’. One thing Theresa May is particularly gifted at is the ability to weather a storm. As Trump seems to be immune to controversy – there is accusations about Trump everywhere and even his golf is reported to be highly dubious. Here is one report by the Guardian, but there are a few around. The writer concludes, with the completely unsurprising statement, ‘Somebody should point out that the way Trump does Golf is sort of the way he does a presidency, which is to operate as though the rules are for other people’. Shock, horror? No, everyone kind of knows it already and no-one is surprised. I think that is part of the reason Trump has weathered the storms of payments to lawyers and his relationship or otherwise with Stormy Daniels etc. No surprise from anyone, not least Trump. In a similar way, the rejection that would normally crush another politician doesn’t seem to hurt Theresa May. You know the images we have seen of Theresa May wandering alone around Europe telling the EU 27, ‘we are making progress’ and ‘nearly there’. Only for May to turn back to good old Blighty and face another slap in the face with a rejected deal. There are calls for her to resign, coups from the Tory party, exasperation from Europe and May…just shrugs it off and comes back. It is a little bit like the guy who asks the girl to marry him, but she says, ‘No’. So, he decides to swallow all pride and ask again, again and again. Publicly, regularly and without shame. He wants the girl and that’s all he thinks about. At heart I think this is what drives May. She wants to serve her people and this is the way she is convinced will best help them deliver on their decision. Whether right or wrong, she seems correctly motivated.

So, a cross party approach is excellent news. It means that finally, Britain will put this ‘Brexit’ behind us. It was in February of this year where I indicated that this was probably going to be the way out of this whole saga. You can read it here.  One quote that stands out is that now we are going to see the EU be more helpful. Why? It was this aside that I reported at the time from an EU aide:

“We are still very much in the party politics perspective. The only hope is that, at some point, the threat of ‘no-deal’ disruptions would mobilise minds in the UK,”

The EU wants to deal with the country, not a party. Fair enough. A cross party vote says that Britain are now ready to do a deal. The EU will be most flexible if they feel they are speaking to everyone, as opposed to one or two parties.. The catch? Well, we know life, there is always a potential catch. As always it is fear and greed which are the obvious flies in the ointment. Corbyn could get greedy and try to make May implode and call a General election. Party politics can be puts aside temporarily, but it is always there. Democracy is a good system, but is far from perfect. AT least we can get rid of the tyrants in a democratic system though, as long as the people voting are all sane and good. A labour government would mean a  sharp drop in the pound, and probably a large bounce immediately after as a Soft/no-Brexit is priced in. The other is fear and the Conservative party could become fearful of a softer than they wanted Brexit and pull the rug from May. However, my bet is on May. As Trump is seemingly immune to controversy, so May is seemingly immune to rejection and if anyone can endure some more rejection along the way, it is her.