Watts up doc?

The Government seems to be in difficulties forming an arrangement with the small DUP which will help them govern. Much joy and schadenfreude ensues in luvvieland because they have nearly convinced themselves a couple of straws will bear their weight, and that this will mean no (hard) Brexit

The egregiously camp N Watts on Newsnight tonight claimed to have been told by various Remainer plotters in the Tory party that they will force an amendment, if necessary, to the Repeal Bill. This will involve exempting from the repeal the legislation of 1972 that established the process whereby the UK joined the EEC as it then was.This obscure manoeuvre will apparently force the Government to abandon hard Brexit. 

And how was Watts defining hard Brexit in this particular case? -- leaving without a deal. This was always a tough negotiating stance rather than a policy, I insist --but luvvies don't like confrontation (except when EU spokespersons do it). Successful amendment would force the Government to ask the EU for an extension to the negotiations (and then what?)

Usual key role played by 'ifs' in all this, of course.

The other main straw for Remain optimists is that the opening talks led to a 'win' for the EU. The UK wanted to get on to trade right away but the EU wanted to discuss things like citizen's rights and the 'divorce bill' first. They got their way, although as Davis said, the whole thing has to be agreed as a package so in a way the order doesn't matter -- but it was taken as a key 'demand' and 'losing' is seen as a sign of weakness (not as petty tantrums or willy waving).

So what are the Remainers hoping for now? It can surely only be Project Fear Mk 2. The EU makes things so difficult and expensive that the British people come to their senses and call the whole thing off.

We'll see...