The path of least resitance

My much missed Dad once explained that water and electricity will always follow the easiest path; the path of least resistance. And so it is with Brexiteers.

Given the sheer complexity of negotiating a withdrawal agreement with the EU, and then a transition deal, and up to 750 trade deals with the other countries in the WTO and replicating the FTAs that the UK currently enoys with many of the biggest markets in the world. It will be no surprise to learn that the route that requires, at least on their part, no planning or preparation is a no deal. As it also gives the lazy Brexiteer the chance to blame it all on the unbending EU tto.

That it will destroy industry, exports, raise inflation and unemployment, planes will not be able to fly, new international driving licences will be needed for anyone who wants to drive in Europe, free data roaming wil,be quickly forgotten about. Just so the Brexiteers who have been banging on about leaving the EU since the 70s in some cases, don't actually have to do some serious thinking and have a plan, or find out how negotiations really work.

Liam Fox was quoted in The Times today saying that a no deal is now more likely, because the EU has rejected May's Chequers plan. As they were bound to do as it required the four freedoms to be picked from, and that is the reddest of red lines for the EU.

That the other side would have some requirements doesn't figure into Fox's thinking, and begs the question as if he has really learned anything in his two years in post as Trade Minister.

What this does do is signal to UK industry, that the Government is talking of no deal now as a possibility, when it might just be political grandstanding, so contingency plans to move production or close bases in the UK down will be put in motion, as Fox is, after all, the Trade Minister, and not like he is trying to run an independent trade policy say, like Boris did.

A political crisis is what Brexit needs, and this brings one much closer, though with Parliament on recess until September 4th, there is a long time to go as yet.