View from outside the tunnel

There are just 58 days left in the year.

And the least amount of time the EU has ratified an FTA is, 58 days.

So, time is running short.

Brexit has been very quiet for nearly two weeks, as bth sides have entered what is called "the tunnel", where neither side briefs the media about how things are going. So far, the signs, for what few ones there have been, have been promising.

But a reminder: that any FTA is not in place until it has been fully ratified. Now, that normally doesn't matter that one or two countries reject it at first, as it can be presented before their respective Parliaments again. But with Brexit, there is a hard deadline, and if there is no full ratification, then there is no deal, and so we are all back to Jail with no FTA and a no deal Brexit, no agreement on anything.

Now, that is not a total disaster, as such a scenrio would focus minds, but here in the UK things could get a little crazy. A littly crazy might help to focus Brexiteer minds somewhat. Riots for bread might also focus minds.

The point is, no deal on New Year's Day is not the end point, and would quickly be followed by more talks and something agreed quickly.

Or that is how it would be in a fact-based, rational non-Brexit world.

There would be blame, and many Brexiteers have been getting their accusations of blame towards the EU for months.

And the very consequences of the Brexit they have long desired will mean more red tape, longer queues at EU airports and ports, food shortages and so on, but this they will be only too happy to blame on the vindictive EU punishing the UK.

This would be total bollocks. Of course.

But for now, focus of just about everyone in Europe and the UK is on COVID and the US elections, but Brexit is a time bomb that will go off on New Year's Day, whether you are concentrating on it or not.

An extension could be agreed, called something else to fave one of Johnson's faces, but such things take time to agree, and so far Johnson has said there will be no extension.

In the real world, Andy, who works with Jools is having to tell all their suppliers that from January 1st every truck will need to dsplay a Kent Entry Permit (KEP) to deliver to local businesses. This is being done on top of, and instead of the work to keep the company trading in these troubled times.