When leaving is so hard to do

The EU said it would continue to work with the UK to agree a trade deal.

But the truth is, the EU has, and has had for some time, bigger problems than Brexit. COVID, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and on and on. And a former member wanting the benfits of membership without the responsibility, well, here are our terms, either accept them or not.

Johnson promised to walk out of talk if there was no deal by the end of the 15th October.

But then Johnson promises lots of things that don't happen.

There is a lonely ditch somewhere.

But it is the 16th, and the UK has not walked out on talks, after all, and is calling on the EU to change its position. The EU says the UK knows its position, the UK has to decide what to do.

In fat the EU's position on dispute resolution has hardned as a result of the IMB, and unless the clauses that will allow the UK (under domestic law, maybe) are removed, then there is no deal. And any deal will have stonger instruments to ensude there can be no wiggling room for Johnson or whoever comes after.

If there is a no deal, it will just be the start of new talks. As trading has to happen, in time, as France and the rest of Europe isn't going to move. But then Brexit was never going to stop, deal or no deal by December 31st, there will be talks on trade, on data, on cooperation, on everything, forever, or until the UK rejoins the UK, because nothing ever stands still. EU rules and regulatiosn change, and there will have to be talks on how the UK as a third country, will comply and prove it.

So, no deal is not forever. It won't be pretty, it won't be smooth, but it won't be forever either. But it will trash what is left of the UK's reputation on the international stage. And the UK will have to go on bended knees to the EU, and it will be the EU, as breaking the GFA will mean no trade deal with the US, to beg for terms. It will be a humiliation.

I'm sure for Johnson it'll be a laugh, something to joke about as his private members club, or the heavily subsidised bar at the House of Lords where he will end up as the political elite will always look after themselves, no matter how utterly shit they are.

So the UK might have to deal with COVID, a recession and Breixt at the same time. In winter. THere might be food shortages. Energy shortages. Fuel shortages.

Oh what fun it'll be, like a 70's throwback party. With less flock wallpaper.

To quote Alexander Boris de Piffel Johnson, failure to acheive a trade deal with the EU will be a monumental failure of state.