[Sephiroth]

There was a very amusing letter in yesterday's Torygraph. It said that when May said she would give the UK the Brexit they voted for, she meant that we would be 52% out and 48% in.

Chequers sort of delivers that which supports suggestions that she has always had a Remain agenda and this is the closest she can get without scuppering Brexit altogether.

It would help if the debate moved to comparing the merits and risks as between Chequers and Canada Plus, including the Northern Ireland question.

There is no doubt that an open border is a must and that customs operations can be handled without having border checks. But the way the EU has handled this, and Varadka in particular, leaves just as little doubt that the EU is being mischievous (or nasty) in trying the split the UK and/or keep it all in the Customs Union via a backstop .

So there's much to debate. I for one support what I take to be Mick's position (and that of Varoufakis) that the EU managers don't do democracy. That is a very serious matter and we are right to leave. And will the EU come up with something as other realities become clear? I just hope that they offer Canada Plus with open border but technical customs controls (and random stops inside the borders) and we use the transition period to put all this in place.