EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

Of course they understand that. What they're doing is a way of maintaining their brand value as 'Brexiteers' without resigning, i.e. without any formal or procedural consequences for themselves (as May isn't going to sack them for it, cabinet discipline being appalling as a result of the splits in the party and her weakness).

As I've said, I expect the Tories and DUP to find some way of 'saving face' (well, not if you see through them) and in the end voting for May's deal just to keep the threat of a general election away until constituency boundaries have been redrawn and they can hope to keep Corbyn out. In the meantime, we'll see all kinds of silly theatrics but nothing serious. I mean, Dominic Raab resigning isn't a threat for May because he was sidelined, anyway, and he obviously realised the DExEU job was a dead-end street that he had nothing to gain from, so having Barclay there now is win-win for them both. Apart from that, some junior ministers resigned, probably all for reasons separate from the 'Brexit' process. Nobody has resigned whose resignation would matter.

The ERG leadership challenge, if it comes off, will either fail, leaving May strengthened, and the ERG will then be able to say 'well, we tried, but now we have to be behind May'--or it will succeed, installing Boris Johnson or David Davis as a caretaker prime minister, with the DUP arrangement continuing, in which case there might well be 'no deal'. Granted, even now, both options seem unlikely, but never underestimate people's desire to stay in power against maintaining their 'principles'.

More unicorn thinking from Loathsome and her dim chums.