With 100 days to go and with the 'meaningful vote' on Theresa May's 'deal', or EU Withdrawal Agreement, postponed until mid January, Brexit has now come down to a game of bluff and threats.
Theresa May and her cabinet have begun plans for a no-deal Brexit and in so doing is essentially threatening parliament to vote for her deal or crash out of the EU and fall back on WTO rules.
Some have called it a game of chicken, but it could also be regarded as a form of blackmail.
With the government appearing to be serious in following through with a no-deal Brexit should it lose the vote on May's deal organisations representing hundreds of thousands of firms have expressed concern saying a no-deal would bring "severe dislocation and disruption".
"Businesses have been watching in horror as politicians have focused on factional disputes rather than practical steps that business needs to move forward," a statement from the CBI [British Chambers of Commerce], Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and the EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said [Sky News].
Amongst many employers there is a concern that much needed immigrant worker will refrain from coming to the UK [Guardian / BBC].
The government have said they have ramped up contingency plans putting aside £2 billion of public money [Gov.uk], putting troops on standby [CNN] and buying up refrigerators to stockpile medicine [iNews / Guardian].
Whilst the likes of Iain Duncan Smith and Jacob Rees-Mogg insist a no-deal is of little concern, there is a general consensus that a no-deal Brexit would be a painful experience [Politico / Guardian / NBC].
Even with the slightly softer approach offered by the EU as it published updated preparedness and contingency plans, a no-deal will still create significant problems and will only defer much of the chaos for months [Europa / BBC / FT].
Given May's deal is rejected, there are a few that believe that Brexit is dead. Some feel that a voting down of Theresa May's deal will force a so-called People's Vote. This could still go either way and there is a fear amongst some that the whole Brexit shambles could become an intractable political hot potato.
But while there are only a few expressing such a view, there is a feeling that the Tory government and parliament may "bottle it" and retract Article 50 as at least one commentator has speculated might happen [Twitter].
May's slogans of Brexit Means Brexit, No Deal is Better Than a Bad Deal and What We Want is a Red, White & Blue Brexit all seem rather hollow after more than 600 days since the EU referendum. With 100 days to go until Brexit day and only a little over 70 days when parliament is likely to vote down May's 'deal' there may be a reality check within May's cabinet.
Will May really want to own a hard Brexit with all the economic fallout that it would bring with it?
The next general election in the United Kingdom is scheduled to be held on 5th May 2022 under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. Thus the Tory government would have a breathing space to bridge the divides and tackle the anger that would likely arise from the hardcore eurosceptics if it did abandon Brexit.
The Tory party's main concern is about retaining power. Should they follow through with a no-deal, the chaos that will follow is very likely to result in the Tory party falling in 2022. Indeed it might even face a vote of confidence before then should things go very badly.
If, on the other hand, it seizes the moment and rescinds Article 50, there is a chance it could ride the storm and maintain support. May is set to step down before 2022 thus putting into place a new leader which could, potentially, allow the party to rebuild and make itself re-electable.
There is no guarantee any of this will happen, but the odds are certainly going up that Brexit may not happen at all [Atlantic Council / Mirror] .
tvnewswatch, London, UK
Theresa May and her cabinet have begun plans for a no-deal Brexit and in so doing is essentially threatening parliament to vote for her deal or crash out of the EU and fall back on WTO rules.
Some have called it a game of chicken, but it could also be regarded as a form of blackmail.
With the government appearing to be serious in following through with a no-deal Brexit should it lose the vote on May's deal organisations representing hundreds of thousands of firms have expressed concern saying a no-deal would bring "severe dislocation and disruption".
"Businesses have been watching in horror as politicians have focused on factional disputes rather than practical steps that business needs to move forward," a statement from the CBI [British Chambers of Commerce], Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and the EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said [Sky News].
Amongst many employers there is a concern that much needed immigrant worker will refrain from coming to the UK [Guardian / BBC].
The government have said they have ramped up contingency plans putting aside £2 billion of public money [Gov.uk], putting troops on standby [CNN] and buying up refrigerators to stockpile medicine [iNews / Guardian].
Whilst the likes of Iain Duncan Smith and Jacob Rees-Mogg insist a no-deal is of little concern, there is a general consensus that a no-deal Brexit would be a painful experience [Politico / Guardian / NBC].
Even with the slightly softer approach offered by the EU as it published updated preparedness and contingency plans, a no-deal will still create significant problems and will only defer much of the chaos for months [Europa / BBC / FT].
Given May's deal is rejected, there are a few that believe that Brexit is dead. Some feel that a voting down of Theresa May's deal will force a so-called People's Vote. This could still go either way and there is a fear amongst some that the whole Brexit shambles could become an intractable political hot potato.
But while there are only a few expressing such a view, there is a feeling that the Tory government and parliament may "bottle it" and retract Article 50 as at least one commentator has speculated might happen [Twitter].
May's slogans of Brexit Means Brexit, No Deal is Better Than a Bad Deal and What We Want is a Red, White & Blue Brexit all seem rather hollow after more than 600 days since the EU referendum. With 100 days to go until Brexit day and only a little over 70 days when parliament is likely to vote down May's 'deal' there may be a reality check within May's cabinet.
Will May really want to own a hard Brexit with all the economic fallout that it would bring with it?
The next general election in the United Kingdom is scheduled to be held on 5th May 2022 under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. Thus the Tory government would have a breathing space to bridge the divides and tackle the anger that would likely arise from the hardcore eurosceptics if it did abandon Brexit.
The Tory party's main concern is about retaining power. Should they follow through with a no-deal, the chaos that will follow is very likely to result in the Tory party falling in 2022. Indeed it might even face a vote of confidence before then should things go very badly.
If, on the other hand, it seizes the moment and rescinds Article 50, there is a chance it could ride the storm and maintain support. May is set to step down before 2022 thus putting into place a new leader which could, potentially, allow the party to rebuild and make itself re-electable.
There is no guarantee any of this will happen, but the odds are certainly going up that Brexit may not happen at all [Atlantic Council / Mirror] .
tvnewswatch, London, UK
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