Time for the Cabinet to sort itself out and agree a Brexit position

Another week another Brexit Cabinet showdown. Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country residence, has witnessed many historic events – this week’s meeting of the Cabinet is not one of them. Both of the major political parties contain a wide range of views on the EU, Brexit and what to do next but it is the Conservative Party that decided to hold the referendum and the Conservative Cabinet that has to own the result. At the moment the Cabinet is tossing Brexit around as though it is the hottest of all potatoes and no-one seems able or willing to catch it and keep a firm hold of it.

The Cabinet is largely composed of people who Mrs May would have liked to have sacked had she won the last General Election. She didn’t so she couldn’t. Her Cabinet knows this. It means they are more willing to express their views in public than might normally be the case. Some are passionate Brexiteers, and they feel they are in a desperate fight to secure their referendum victory. A few are loyal and focus on doing their job, but find it difficult to avoid being dragged into the greater noise their colleagues are making. At times it can all seem a bit chaotic, but it would be a mistake to confuse the noise of the Cabinet with the rest of the Parliamentary party.

At the last General Election over half the Parliamentary Conservative Party was under 50 years old. It’s more diverse, inclusive and representative of the country than it’s ever been. These younger MPs, and we can include non-Cabinet Ministers in this group for these purposes, are hugely talented. There are a good number of older MPs too, with experience and perspective to offer. Together it is a rich blend of experience and talent. On the whole these MPs want Brexit done and for the Party, Parliament and the country to move on. The shenanigans of some of the Cabinet does not impress them.

The relationship between this country and the European continent has dominated our politics at least since 1066. Brexit is just the latest chapter in this continuing story. It isn’t a beginning or an end. It is just another twist in the ongoing story of this island nation. A fight to the political death over Brexit in the Cabinet is neither sensible nor wise. Most members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party recognise this.

Some of the Brexit positioning is wrapped up in the shadowy leadership campaign that is underway. It’s likely of course that the next leader will come from the Cabinet, but not inevitable. Neither Tony Blair nor David Cameron had served as a Minister let alone in a Cabinet before becoming Prime Minister.

British politics needs to be able to move on, the government needs to be able to move on. This week at Chequers, for the sake of the country, the Cabinet needs to move on, settle a position – stick to it, and back the Prime Minister.