Admit it, MPs – these fantasy Brexit debates are becoming pointless

If we believe in democracy, politicians on all sides must stop blaming the EU, stop accusing each other and put our faith in the public

Theresa May has become a master of the U-turn. No matter how tight the alleyways she drives herself down, she always manages to switch direction.

After a long journey down “no deal is better than a bad deal”, she swung around to “my [bad] deal is better than no deal”. And last night she shifted from “this deal is the only deal available”, to a promise to seek a “legally binding change to the withdrawal agreement”.

But in interviews on Wednesday morning, the Brexit secretary was incapable of explaining exactly what “change” the government is seeking. I sense he knows we have run out of road.

The magical mystery tour that was Tuesday night’s debate proved the Tories can only unite in Neverland. The prime minister herself has now succumbed to collective Conservative Party amnesia and delusion – acting as if the last two months never happened, and as if some “alternative arrangement” or “technical solution” will save her dead deal.

The EU rejected ministers’ reheated plans to change the Irish backstop just six minutes after MPs voted for them. In fact, the EU rejected a remarkably similar-sounding request to change the agreed deal before Christmas, and indeed has consistently refused to alter the backstop, not out of stubbornness – but out of respect for the Good Friday Agreement and recognition that peace in Northern Ireland is paramount.

By pursuing this doomed strategy, the prime minister is once again placing party unity above the future of our country. She’s pushing us out of a plane without a parachute, on the assurance that “alternative arrangements” will be made before we hit the ground.

Last night should be a wake-up call for those of us in opposition. The likes of Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, who in 2016 promised that leaving the EU would restore parliamentary sovereignty, voted against every amendment that might give MPs a say on what happens next. We are living under martial rule by a monocle-wearing ERG elite.

Brexit isn’t about restoring our outdated democracy to health or empowering neglected communities. It’s about an ideological split in the Conservative Party, and May will adopt any policy that might hold her MPs together – regardless of what it means for our country.

Those of us who believe in workers’ rights, environmental protections and our NHS, those who want to build a fairer society, and those who want to stand up for the millions who rejected the status quo in 2016 must now work together.

We face new challenges today – from climate change and the refugee crisis to international terrorism. They cross borders and affect us all. Indeed, our very future depends on us cooperating with our neighbours. The peace, prosperity and freedom that the EU has delivered ought to be front and centre of the Brexit debate – so too the social and environmental protections secured across 27 countries, the remarkable gift of free movement, the good angel sitting on our shoulder when it comes to human rights, the friendships across borders, the cultural opportunities, the life without fear and the solidarity.

There was some hope on Tuesday night when a majority of MPs rejected the dire prospect of a disastrous no-deal Brexit. Parliament will not allow mass job losses, chaos at ports or a breakdown of peace in Northern Ireland.

But as the Brexit timebomb ticks, we must urgently unite behind a new way forward. When May returns from Brussels empty-handed yet again, we must use our Valentine’s Day vote to reject her damaging deal and force her to extend Article 50.

These endless fantasy debates and repetitive votes can only be further undermining people’s faith in our political system. If we believe in democracy, MPs on all sides must stop blaming the EU, stop accusing each other and face up to our own failure to break this impasse. The best way to achieve consensus now – for the country, not just the Conservatives – is to put our faith in the public with a People’s Vote and citizens’ assemblies to start building our future.

Caroline Lucas is co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Brighton Pavilion