Express & Star comment: It’s time for Plan B now Mrs May

The Prime Minister is adamant that the set of proposal resulting from that ill-fated meeting of her Cabinet in July could ‘break the deadlock’ with the European Union on Brexit.

This was a meeting, let us not forget, that would lead to the resignations of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis.

It also showed us that Tory divisions over Brexit were not just deep, but cavernous.

Yet despite the many unanswered questions that have resulted from the Chequers proposals, Mrs May has continued in the belief that, when it comes down to it, everything will be alright on the night.

To say the least, her confidence appears to be misplaced.

In recent weeks questions have been asked over whether the Brexit plan would get through Parliament, bearing in mind the significant opposition to it among both Remain and Leave-backing MPs.

But it has now emerged that such speculation is premature anyway, as in its current form, the plan has no chance of gaining the approval of the EU.

It seems that Michel Barnier’s view of the Chequers deal mirrors that of many people in Britain.

To borrow Jacob Rees-Mogg’s succinct and accurate description, it is ‘rubbish’.

The reality is that what was billed as an ‘agreement’ was never anything of the sort.

It was little more than a hodgepodge of measures that when combined, represent a feeble attempt to placate people on both sides of the argument.

To that you can add an alarming lack of detail and a depressing willingness to compromise on every key issue.

Let’s get this straight. The Government’s Chequers proposals would result in a watered down version of Brexit that would please few of the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the EU.

With the chances of it getting past the Brussels bureaucrats looking non-existent, Mrs May should really consider going back to the drawing board.

It is time for Plan B – although with this Government’s poor record, it is a fair bet that no such thing exists.