Having seen Theresa May’s deal collapse after failing to win over 34 members of the ERG, No 10 will be heartened that the group’s chair, Steve Baker, gave the proposals a cautious welcome. In a House of Commons in which 322 MPs are needed for a majority, the Conservatives now have only 288 MPs and have relied upon the support of 10 DUP MPs. It also rejected, three times, May’s deal with the EU. Opponents of Brexit in parliament indicated they would not support the proposals unless they were accompanied by the promise of another referendum. The Liberal Democrats, who want to stop Brexit, said the proposals would deal a “hammer blow” to the Northern Irish economy.

Source: The Guardian October 02, 2019 20:48 UTC