Selling the Chequers plan
Theresa May’s Chequers plan is in big trouble at home. More flexibility from the EU would help its chances
THERESA MAY could be forgiven for seeing next week’s trip to Salzburg to meet her fellow EU leaders as a welcome break from continual harassment at home. Her plan for Brexit, announced at Chequers, her country retreat, in July, is under attack from all sides (see article). Hardline Brexiteers hate the idea of keeping in close alignment with EU regulations so as to preserve frictionless trade in goods. Remainers dislike the plan’s omission of services, which are Britain’s most competitive sector. This week there was even wild talk among some Tory MPs of ousting Mrs May as party leader. In today’s febrile political climate, the chances of getting a Chequers-like plan through Parliament seem alarmingly small.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Selling Chequers”
From the September 15th 2018 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Leaders
If you must raise taxes, raise VAT
Taxing consumption is economically efficient and politically possible
The sinking feeling caused by Labour’s clumsy start
Britain’s new government is paying for the sins of the election campaign
How worried should Sri Lanka be about its ex-Marxist president?
He is not as bad as he sounds. But the risk of disappointment is high
After peak woke, what next?
The influence of a set of illiberal ideas is waning. That creates an opportunity
Let Ukraine hit military targets in Russia with American missiles
Hitting back at the forces blasting Ukrainian cities is legal and proportionate
The breakthrough AI needs
A race is on to push artificial intelligence beyond today’s limits