Can May Do A Corbyn?

Hardly more than days ago May was near the bottom of a slippery slope down which she had been sliding since her calamitous election debacle. A divided cabinet with leadership contenders following their own agenda in defiance of hers. On issues of policy her hands were tied by Brexiteer zealots and, via the DUP, Protestant ideologues. Finally there was the agreement which collapsed just as everyone was ready to sign. Oh Dear.

But then the plane dash in the small hours to a dawn breakfast and triumph nobody believed possible. Wow what a cliffhanger, if not over the cliff. But the drama was not over. Next came a government defeat. But was it?  Now that the Commons has to approve the terms, hard Brexit is belly up, because there is nothing like a majority in favour of such a barmy course. So a jaunty May returned to Brussels and appeared at dinner to warm applause. They had seen for months a loser. Now she came back a fighter. One who could lead and might win. So Europe backs her.

Now for the question I started with. Can she do a Corbyn? Yes, but only if she is willing to take on the wreckers in her party, the hard Brexiteers, and crush them out of sight. Then the country could indeed rise up and sing ‘Oh Theresa May’.

But until those misguided hard Brexit Tories, a noisy minority with less power than they think, who believe the chaos they are creating is better than a sane future as part of the European family, are faced down and sidelined, May will be at risk.