Peak Brexit

Over the last twenty seven or so months, I have recounted the madness and stupidity of Brexit. But today, we really reached peak-Brexit. DD was interviewed on Radio 4’s flagship current affairs news program, Today, where John Humphry gave him an easy time, but the reason for writing this is that DD spent the whole interview criticising the Government’s whole plan and tactics on Brexit. But bearing in mind that for 20 months, he was literally the Minister for Brexit and conducted the very same negotiations he is now criticising. You really, really could not make this up. Maybe he is so dim he failed to realise that he was the Minister for Brexit for two years, or as such he had the job of influencing and shaping Government policy both internally and towards the EU.

The photograph taken before the very first meeting between he and Barnier showed Barnier, on the EU side, sitting holding a huge pile of papers and documents. Many joked this was the pile of EU red tape that Brexit was going to sweep away. Ho, ho and indeed ho. And on the other side there was DD just smiling.

The other view was that on one side was the EU and its representative with documents and facts at hand and DD hoping to wing it. We can see which one of those was closer to being true.

DD’s successor, Raab, stated in a meeting with business leaders yesterday that he had only just discovered the reality of the fact that most of the UK/EU trade in fresh produce goes between Dover and Calais because the two are so very close geographically.

I repeat, you really could not make this up.

Peak Brexit.

The EU and Ireland have both said that the UK would not be allowed to have a time limit to the backstop, because it would then longer be a backstop. But even as I write this, Liam Fox is demanding the same thing. Again.

Ireland and the EU will not agree to any situation that allows wither by time of by political decision for the backstop to be ended before there was an acceptable alternative. This is basic stuff.

But then Brexiteers don’t do basic stuff, like facts of the other side’s point of view.

Which is why we’re here.

May is still expected to get the cabinet together vote on a draft WA that does not mention the Irish backstop, and remember kids that without the backstop of a solution to the Irish border, there can be no WA. And without a WA there can be no transition agreement (TA) and there can be no permanent agreement on trade.

And finally, the Government’s expensive attempt to appeal the decision the verdict to send the question of whether the UK can unilaterally revoke the A50 notice to the UCJ, was today rejected. This will be heard before Christmas at the UCJ will rule which will mean that in the event of there still being a stalemate on the WA in January, instead of there being a “Hobson’s Choice” there would be another choice possibly, to stop the A50.

Maybe