The latest change in plan

May’s latest screeching U-turn makes her utterly unfit to lead

Wed 20 Mar 2019 16.20 GMTLast modified on Wed 20 Mar 2019 19.17 GMT

‘This latest example is the Russian doll of reversals, with several other reversals contained within it.’ Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

No matter how bad you think Theresa May is, she always manages to get worse. Her record of insisting on one thing, only to U-turn weeks, days or even hours later is almost impressive in its scope. There would be no snap election, she vowed – and then there was one. Her Brexit deal would be subject to a meaningful vote in December– and then the vote was pulled, punted into the new year. Brexit would happen on 29 March – and now it won’t.

This latest example is the Russian doll of reversals, with several other reversals contained within it. For just last week, May’s de facto deputy, David Lidington, was adamant that any delay to Brexit would have to be lengthy, since a short, one-off extension would be both pointless – leaving too little time to do anything – and “downright reckless”, as well as being “completely at odds with the position” MPs had taken the previous evening. May had told the Commons that, if MPs voted down her agreement with the EU – which they did – she would be seeking a long extension. She delivered the same message to the cabinet only yesterday.

Attitude

Dad and Son and football

The weekend action at Griffin Park featured the visit of WBA with one ‘Baggies’ supporter sitting next to me. Unfortunately for Joe he could not get a ticket to sit in the away supporters end and had to accept sitting with me and the Brentford supporters.

It was not a good game with both sides playing poorly and making errors. WBA scored a good solo goal but rest of the performance was limited.

But it was good Dad and son time. A fine cycle in history as of course Joe holds his allegiance to WBA as it was his first game I took him to when we lived in the West Midlands. He was nearly or a little more than 5. The first game was against Nottingham Forest. I think he lasted until about half time. I took him again but I cannot remember who against when he lasted longer.

Football inculcation. How it is always done.

Another Twist in the Brexit Saga

Not too surprisingly the option of the government to send the same decision back to the House of Commons, until they come up with the ‘correct’ answer has been blocked by the Speaker.

It has been clear for some time now that John Bercow sees himself as a leading protagonist in our political drama, not some bystander. Even before Theresa May’s deal was bogged down in parliamentary trench warfare, the Commons Speaker had styled himself as a warrior on behalf of the legislature, defending it against arrogant incursions by government. But kicking May’s withdrawal agreement out of the chamber altogether yesterday was a ferocious escalation.