Magical Realist or Iron Lady? Mrs. May's speech on the EU examined

Peter Hitchens's blog ^ | 1/18/2017 | Peter Hitchens

[Nextrush]

I have now read the Prime Minister's Tuesday speech on the EU..

...the most important bit seems to me to be the section where she promises a vote of both Houses of Parliament on the eventual agreement:

'And when it comes to Parliament, there is one other way in which I would like to provide certainty. I can confirm today that the Government will put the final deal that is agreed between the UK and the EU to a vote in both Houses of Parliament, before it comes into force'

This is preceded by the very early statements that 'thje principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty is the basis of our unwritten constitutional settlement' and '(The Referendum) was a vote to restore, as we see it, our parliamentary democracy, national self-determination and to become even more global and internationalist in action and in spirit'.....

They must say over and over again that Britain *is* leaving the EU. What is more, they must achieve a settlement which can be presented as a British departure.

But like all serious politicians, they know that victories are often only achievable if they are disguised as defeats. Let the other guy (if he is thick believe he has won. Leave the other guy (if he is clever) free to *claim* he has won, even if he knows in his heart he has lost......

...we may get-and settle for-a good deal less than Mrs May is now saying, and much less than those who are now praising Mrs May for her resolve. Resolve is not tested in pre-battle speeches to the troops. It is expressed and tested when the hard pounding starts, and the enemy's cannon begin to carve grisly red lanes in your ranks....

But will she do as she says? I have my doubts. See below:.......

[Nextrush]

Peter Hitchens blogging from London on his doubts about Prime Minister May's commitment to Brexit, suggesting she's getting ready to pull off a magical trick claiming a Brexit process is underway when the end result will be something different.