In bad faith

"We engaged in these negotiations on the basis of this document (the joint political declaration) which is available in all languages ....

including English"

So dais Micheal Barnier at the conclusion of the talks before the end of June, with the result that the two sides are further apart now than at the start.

I am not being a "remoaner" to point out, that all the EU wanted for the UK to live up to the contents of the PD signed and ratified in December.

The UK has been trying to roll back on that ever since.

It was once said that "an Englishman's word is his bond", but not any more.

The main bone of contentions are the LPF provisions and the NI Protocol.

The NI protocol is not just part of the PD, it is in the legally binding WA, it will come into effect no matter what, and agreeing how what was agreed is going to work is essential.

LPF - “very far from this objective”

Civil nuclear - “we are very far from this objective”

Anti money laundering/ counter terror - “v far”

Framework agreement: “v far”

On fisheries...

“zonal attachment is the only parameter” the UK acknowledges, says Barnier “If thats the case there’s no discussion to be had”... basically says there is no chance of annual negotiations being agreed to, as too complicated

“Avoiding exit declarations are incompatible” with implementation of Northern Ireland protocol... says Barnier..

Barnier restates Zero tariffs 0 quotas “unparalleled offer” & “only possible solution” in such short time [other FTAs took years] but can only get that with level playing field guarantees.

PM will be asked at summit w/ EU: “do you remain committed to the Political Declaration?” struck by the fact that again almost all questions from UK journalists... little evidence so far for idea that European biz worried about trade surplus with UK are going to force EU side to compromise... not even registering on scale of Covid crisis...

So, there we have it, Brexit being handled in the same safe handed way it always was, and is reflected in the Government's handling of COVID-19.

UK businesses are having to deal a potential situation with tariffs and no tariffs, and also non-tariff barriers and no non-tariff barriers. As well as dealing and recovering from COVID.

The UK Government needs to start acting like a grown up, rather than a screaming toddler. But maybe this was always the plan.

Who knows?