The Prime Minister has left the door open to a referendum on EU free movement, saying he wants to start a conversation about the UK’s future relationship with Brussels. Nobody asked for a conversation. The country has been having one since 2016 and still hasn’t reached the end of its sentence.
The statement promises “potential options” without naming a single one. It is the political equivalent of a restaurant menu with the prices scratched out. Voters are invited to choose once the kitchen confirms what is in stock.
Is this a plan? Not yet. It is a door, and the door is ajar, which in Westminster terms means a committee will be formed to find the hinges.
Citizens have responded with the weary calm of people who have sat through this episode before. Several have asked whether a yes vote comes with a complimentary bag of crisps. The Treasury has declined to confirm. The Cabinet has declined to comment on the crisps.
The referendum, if it arrives, will be the latest instalment in a drama with no finale scheduled. Viewers are advised to bring snacks.