"This is serious business. You don't just put on a pair of union jack y fronts, march into Brussels and make demands.". No really omg how deluded I've been
and you think the civil service weren't preparing for all eventualities there will be plans made and they will be waiting for a politician to choose which one they want to proceed with. Also it's rarely our politicians that deal with the international negotiations it's the diplomatic staff politicians make an appearance at the begining and the end and take the credit.