PMQs: May lives in hope

In the midst of a bizarre Brexit lull ahead of next week’s key votes. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn had another uninspiring showdown in PMQs this afternoon. What, if anything, can we take from their exchange today?

It was Brexit, naturally, on the cards again. But in between the usual stats-slanging from Corbyn, and tired set pieces from May, there was an interesting exchange over the customs union. Are we seeing glimmers that the previously immovable May may be able to change her mind?

Corbyn went in with the familiar line of attack: May’s strategy is to run down the clock as we approach the 29th March, leaving the Commons with the twin terrible options of her deal or a no deal Brexit. Justice Secretary David Gauke said earlier this week that we can’t rule out a customs union Brexit, while Andrea Leadsom has since affirmed that we can’t have a customs union Brexit, Corbyn pointed out. So which is it? Can May rule out a customs union?

May responded that she is happy to sit down with the leader of the opposition to talk about a customs union solution, if that is what he really wants. She made the case for her deal however – it has all the benefits of a customs union, with the added benefits of being able to design our own trade policy. She then flooded him with technical jargon on the different components of a customs union in a bid to avoid answering his fairly straightforward question. An easy tactic, but one that both sides of the chamber are wise to.

It’s not like May has made a seismic shift in favour of a customs union, but it is noteworthy that she refused to completely rule out the possibility. Has… something changed?

Aside from the tussle over a customs union, we predictably had to suffer through Corbyn’s incessant parroting over no deal. Will May “take no deal off the table” he said, for perhaps the 700th time this month. “What we are doing is working to ensure we leave the EU with a deal, and that is the way to avoid no deal” May responded, for perhaps the 700th time this month. We witnessed this exact exchange on Monday, and we will witness it again next week. And every week until the end of time, possibly.

Corbyn raised the slew of amendments that have recently been tabled. He asked May whether, if they were passed, the government would then rule out a no deal Brexit. May pointed out that the amendments fail to do anything more than engineer a situation whereby Article 50 is extended. There will always be a decision to make, she added – a deal, no deal or no Brexit. It’s a marked, if minor, improvement on her previous iteration of this phrase – my deal, no deal or no Brexit. But it’s hardly a signifier of a dynamic politician ready to adapt and hash out a new, viable plan B.

Corbyn then is right to criticise the prime minister on her immovability, unwillingness to adjust to changing circumstances, and refusal to accept that she will need to do something different to prevent Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal. But, as he asked her to “rule out no deal” yet again, knowing fully well he would receive the same answer he has always done, he could perhaps benefit with a little self-awareness. Pot kettle black.

As the famous phrase goes: It is a surefire sign of madness to keep doing the same thing while expecting different results. If this phrase bears any truth, then some serious questions ought to be raised over the mutual sanity of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

No one came out of the exchange looking good. It was as unedifying as ever. But, with Theresa May’s refusal to rule out a customs union we may cling onto a small inkling of a hope that she’s not as stuck in her ways as previously thought. An inkling though it might be.