Assessing the assessments

The British Government has commissioned at least 50 impact assessments on the UK economy, detailing how the different Brexit scenarios would make and cost. Briilliant work, so we can all make informed judgements on whether hard, sofe or no deal is good and what it would cost the country and us personally.

Only the Government is refusing to publish them, thinks we don’t need to know, and that we should be happy with a “trust us, we know what we’re doing, Guv”. This is enough for the right leaning, Brexit supporting papers, but this morning 210 MPs signed a motion that they should be released.

I mean having facts available so that Britons can make informed decisions is a marvellous idea. News on that as we get it.

Other than that, Donald Tusk said unless there was “sufficient progress” by the end of the year then the whole process will have to be looked at. He has said from March the only realistic choice for Britain was between a “hard” Brexit and a no deal. As ever, he is right.

Meanwhile the Brexiteers have been getting their excuses in early, blaming Remainers, the House of Lords, the BBC, The EU; anyone but their perfect Brexit religion of course. The EU have made their positions clear, and said these were non-negotiable. So every time Britain suggests movement on one of these, the EU says “no”, so time passes and Britain suggests it again.

In this way, six months have passed since the rounds of talks begun, and really very little progress has been made, if any, on the three basic issues. And with each week and month that goes past, there is less time for any potential trade framework talks.

Despite saying Britain is planning for all eventualities, including no deal, only if there was then there would be much building work in Dover for instance. And none is taking place. Recruitment of customs officials, office space, lorry parks are needed. And seeing that it took DHB a year to replace two roundabouts on Townwall Street with traffic lights, building office blocks is going to take more than the 18 months we have left.

John Redwood has bemoaned that the EU is not talking about anything important; I mean the Irish border of the lives of 4 million people are not important! Britain under David Davis agreed this timetable back in June, so no point in complaining now.

In a radio interview, May would not say, knowing what she knows now, would vote to stay in the EU or leave. A cowardly answer, but not as cowardly as not supporting EU nationals stuck in limbo as their lives are used as bargaining chips, something during the referendum campaign it was said would not happen.

I will close by saying that if May wanted to frustrate and wreck Brexit, she would be doing pretty much the same as she has done since being elected as PM last June. She has been that bad, and yet there is no better candidate to lead the country, in wither her party or the opposition.

Sad, isn’t it?