Is it possible to reverse Brexit?

LONDON, 19 Feb. - (ANA) - A poll carried out by ICM for the Guardian and published by the Guardian on Monday showed that, excluding those with no opinion, voters support the idea of a second referendum by a 16-point margin.

Simultaneously, there are signs that the parliamentary battle over Brexit is about to become more joined up. The main groups opposed to Brexit have agreed to pull together under the banner of the grassroots coordinating group (GCG) in an attempt to ensure a popular vote on the outcome of the Brexit process.

Conservative remain supporters Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke have tabled amendments to the customs bill and the trade bill which would effectively keep the UK in the EU’s customs union. Meanwhile, senior figures in the Labour party are due to meet for talks that many think will herald a major policy shift towards backing for membership of a customs union with the EU.

Consequently, some commentators now argue that a second referendum is more likely than ever, possibly via an amendment to the bill implementing the withdrawal agreement that makes a fresh referendum compulsory. And remainers are beginning to hope that all is not lost.

How realistic are they being? Let’s assume, first, that the GCG manages to avoid the kind of People’s Front of Judea tribalism that has haunted the remain camp to date, that egos and ambition do not trump unity. Is it conceivable that parliamentarians would vote down or amend the deal the prime minister presents them with in October?

As my colleague Jonathan Portes argued some weeks ago, if MPs are genuinely interested in having a “meaningful” vote, they need to have it long before the government is offering it. A vote on vague aspirations in October is hardly satisfactory, if only because there will be no time left to negotiate a better deal with the EU.

Rather, parliament should be insisting now on a binding vote on the guidelines the government must draw up in the next month or so on its approach to trade talks.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 19 February 2018 - - -