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Theresa May could be forgiven for feeling rather lonely, wherever she looks or critics of

her leadership and her approach.

But in many ways she brought this on herself, she used to boast about not liking to gossip

in the tea rooms, about not spending time in parliament when she wasn't working in

not really making friends.

Indeed one of those who is seen as a friend of hers in politics once confided to me that

they'd only been to the May house once in many decades.

The sort of person who's helped Theresa May needs, if she's to see off the threat from

the Brexit ears, is those on the Labour benches who will not simply follow Jeremy Corbyn's

lead, who are pro-European and might vote for her deal.

People like Hillary Ben, my guest on the podcast this week, the man who currently chairs the

select committee that monitors the Brexit department.

I do think that one of the lessons for the Prime Minister not only does her own party

think she doesn't listen and reach out to them, she hasn't reached out to anybody else.

And when the country is so driven by this question, then the government has responsibilities

to take the lead in trying to reach consensus, and then I agree with you, the opposition

has a responsibility then to respond.

Making friends in politics is not just about making the effort, it's also about making

sure that you don't make fools of people who are out in public being loyal to you.

Is the vote definitely 100% going to happen?

Yes.

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