Remainers now have a chance to go for gold, so why should they settle for Theresa May's booby prize?

Even by her pitifully low standards, Theresa May’s last attempt to drag her Brexit withdrawal agreement through the Commons smacks of desperation. She has tried everything, throwing every tactical manoeuvre she can no matter how much it deduces and poisons British politics.

There could yet be a Lazarus moment for a second referendum

A few short weeks ago, it looked like the prospect of a second referendum was well and truly dead in the water.

There's a special place in hell for the intolerant, arrogant politics that Donald Tusk represents

I wonder if it has ever occurred to European Council president Donald Tusk, that the brexiteers, who he has today claimed should have a special place in hell, didn’t have to have a plan. A referendum is just a campaign. The EU membership referendum of 2016 was an advisory referendum that asked the public one simple question: did we want to leave or remain in the European Union. That’s it, plain and simple.

There's no alternative to Theresa May's deal – we're going to find that out the hard way

Last night, the government experienced the worst defeat since the 1920s, as 432 MPs voted against the EU’s withdrawal agreement. Be in no doubt, this throws the Brexit process in to absolute chaos and makes the bleak prospect of leaving the European Union without a deal a stark and very real one.

Cameron is isolated at home and within Europe, he must relent and welcome refugees

David Cameron is, ultimately, a thoroughly decent man. When he muses on the human tragedy that lies behind the ‘migrant crisis,’ it is clear to see that he genuinely means every word and is not playing the part of a politician faking sympathy and sadness to please a public increasingly horrified by the images plastered on its screens and all over the newspapers. But, this good man has a punishing tendency to make life extremely difficult for himself, running scared of the right, Eurosceptic elements of his party, and the kind of Tory voter that would be readily persuaded to switch their support to UKIP, especially in European elections.

Greece and the folly of the EU

The Greek crisis shines the clearest spotlight yet on how utterly economically unwise this European Union can be.

The Queen spoke of friendship, not politics

It gets my back up when people have a go at the Queen. I’m not out for republicans, only those who can’t show this lady some respect whilst the institution she represents continues to exist.

We deserve better than this farce of a contest

It’s been a funny old week at West Minster. It began with David Cameron apparently issuing a clear warning to his ministers: back me on the EU, or face the sack.