By Kieran Laird

In a few weeks MPs will be asked to vote to approve the Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on a future trade deal negotiated by the government. At present, the mood music is that many – both pro- and anti-Brexit – dislike the package. However, whether or not they vote against it will, in large part, depend on what they believe the consequences will be if it is rejected.

A sizable proportion are likely to vote for the deal on the basis that no better terms are available from the EU with the only alternative being a no-deal Brexit for which the UK is unprepared. Indeed that narrative pretty much sums up the government’s current strategy for getting the deal through the House of Commons.