As the vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal approached, the atmosphere in the House of Commons was at once anxious and flat, as MPs considered the inevitable result and its unpredictable consequences. Summing up the debate for the opposition, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said the mood had been “lively at times but also sombre”. “Here we are 20 minutes before the vote, and I don’t know how to vote,” he said, before going on to back Mrs May’s deal. The day began with almost all the front pages celebrating the prime minister’s success in sealing the deal in Strasbourg at the 11th hour. Or does it want to leave with a deal but not this deal?

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2019 22:07 UTC