Endgame?

We weigh up where we've reached with Brexit, now that the big choices can't be avoided for much longer. Is a second referendum any more likely than it was a week ago? What terms will the EU demand for an extension of article 50? And can May finally prevail? With Helen Thompson and Chris Bickerton.

Talking Points:

• Are we finally approaching the endgame on Brexit? The sequence became more clear this week: 1) a vote on May’s deal; 2) A vote on no deal; 3) A vote for an extension
• The case for an extension remains unclear: the EU states will want something concrete.
• Kenneth Armstrong thinks that the key question around an extension is whether it would last 3 months or 2 years. What the extension would mean is also an open question.
• What would happen if May’s deal went down? Neither side has an alternative.
• David thinks that there are only two possible outcomes at this point: May’s deal or a general election
• Although Helen argues that this logic leaves the EU out of the equation.
• Even the Financial Times is talking about a second referendum, but how would you actually get the legislation through Parliament?
• Chris says that Corbyn’s strategy seems to be to edge Brexit over the line while distancing Labour and himself from it.
• The withdrawal and the political agreement still contain a lot of possibilities for a harder or softer Brexit.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Kenneth Armstrong on the Cooper-Letwin Article 50 extension proposal

Further Learning:

• The last time we talked about Brexit…
• The Fate of Theresa May
• Who is Jeremy Corbyn?
• The Next Referendum?

And as ever, recommended reading curated by our friends at the LRB can be found here: lrb.co.uk/talking