Perhaps. Doesn’t excuse the lack of preparation though. I’m happy to make allowances for COVID - but if this was obvious (and I agree it was, once Johnson won his big majority), they could have started getting ready for the no deal, while the pointless pretend negotiations were ongoing.

My worry is the Cummings-Gove-Johnson troika don’t know the answers, but have possibly worked out that there aren’t any good ones they can come with in the time available and are just hoping it is the millennium bug all over again. Confidence and optimism - they have their place, but they’re not really a substitute for plans and action.

oh dear, lunatic left still bleating, makes me sad to be English that these old ideas still have any support. If you don't like it, clear off to Cuba or Venezuela, socialism is a hoot there, honest.

It’s actually quite funny reading their posts. They actually think the Labour Party are a serious political party? The harsh reality is they are now a laughing stock as evident by the last election.

The tories don’t even need to do anything to get re elected because the champagne socialist party are an embarrassment lmao

We don't know what planning has been done - one thing is certain it will be more than we know/think.

You don't have to be a genius to know what is needed - there are plenty of countries that trade with the EU on WTO terms.

Can you name any for whom the EU is by far their largest export market?

Meanwhile given the slow pace of negotiations of other deals, the large majority of all our other trade is going to be on a WTO basis as well. Which significant countries trade on an almost entirely WTO basis?

With the EU - USA, China, Japan - are they significant enough?

The US exports more to its partners in NAFTA of course so your comment isn't even true but anyway, none of your examples bear any resemblance to the UK going alone without a deal with the market on its doorstep.

Well in my case, I’m set for no sort of disappointment at least.

5 months we’ve got now - it really needs to be beyond the the planning stage, and into the announcements and preparation to implement now. It’s not like it has to be kept super secret... in fact, that’d be self defeating. While it isn’t insurmountable, it will be without direction and new processes in place.

Leading this, we have 1. our mascot Prime Minister, Rumpled Thinskin. Largely irrelevant.

2. Weirdo-fancier, wrong satellites-buying, expert on the intersections of particle physics and surrealist art, and world’s least collegiate man, Dominic Cummings. Better, but anybody with any sort of expertise can see the career-ruining consequences of joining his project, so he’s got to do it largely by himself. And ‘it’ is quite big.

3. Michael Gove, who made us aware of a backpfeifengesicht-shaped hole in the English language. Which doesn’t by itself mean he’s incompetent. As you say, we don’t need a genius... which is fortunate. However, if there is a realistic plan, now would be the time to reveal it.

aka 'your opinion doesn't align with mine,therefore you are wrong'

Brexit is happening, get that through your dense cranium!

It is, but does anyone know what we'll end up with?

Aye - it’s happened, in fact.

I would have liked a free trade deal with the EU - but it is looking unlikely. Never say never, but Johnson probably has to go all in on one political polarity and it will be the one for who any sort of compromise will be seen as a surrender.

It’s like we’re moving house. I didn’t want to but it was a family decision, and some of them don’t like the neighbours. It turns out that the promise of a similarly nice house for a lower price in a nearby bit of town was a pipe dream, and we’re moving somewhere more isolated. There’s a logic to that, if it is your preference. What I don’t get is the reluctance/slowness to organise, metaphorically, getting our post forwarded and gas, electric, water and internet suppliers in place. COVID-19, yep - I see that, and that would have messed with putting things in place, anyway. However, it’d be nice to have some information on what the things are and where they’ll be placed. Well, I do get it - this what happens when we put clownfarts in charge.

You've demonstrated your profound ignorance of international trade before so best to let the grown upset discuss this one don't you think?

Shut up Karen. You don’t have a clue about it either. You just like to think you do but you don’t. If you were to be believed you know more than the actual professionals involved in international trade.

Jeez it's almost as if I work at a business which imports about $100m of goods a year. Hang on... I do!

yay, good for you. Shame it doesn't prevent you from being a prize pr4t.

I work for companies that turn over billions, but you keep prattling on if it makes you feel special.

Work for not at I notice, I would say this makes quite a difference. I worked at a company that advised multi nationals and large public bodies but only in respect of certain aspects of their business. This does not make me think I know more than someone who is heavily involved in one particular company.

These are the two biggest economies in the world - China is Europe's second biggest trading partner guess which is the biggest!! - is this a form of masochism on your part - looking like an idiot?

You may well do - but its what you do in that company that determines the validity of your comments?

A shop worker in M&S works for a company that imports significantly more than your company does that make them an expert on importing goods?

No point arguing with the idiot, he'll always beat you on points.

It doesn't matter who you work WITH (I have never seen myself as working 'for' anyone, I am not a slave), Simpleton is just that, hard of thinking, bereft of thought and thoroughly stuck in the dark ages.

I have now...

European trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has said that UK negotiators have changed their attitude in the last couple of weeks, following pressure from business groups.
Could just be part of the propaganda battle, but it sounds plausible to me. Taking any public position on this will be bad for a brand, but I suspect business leaders were starting to get the screaming abdabs in private. Not very democratic, of course, but capitalism typically takes priority. It’d be interesting to see how it was sold, and how many eager no deal-WTO fans buy it.

I head up the finance function with the team who manage the import paperwork and the treasury team who buy the USD forward contracts reporting into me.

But I do have it on good authority that IR80's job at ASDA gives him a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of international trade.

Your delusions are quite impressive.

So you will aware of what is required to trade on WTO terms and how smooth it can be - that AAT has come in handy for you

Quote ="Sal Paradise"So you will aware of what is required to trade on WTO terms and how smooth it can be - that AAT has come in handy for you '" The gap between can and will is what has plagued this process since the off. They’re trying to recruit and train 50,000 new customs officers, and struggling. In part because of COVID-19, admittedly. And it must be tough to train when we don’t know what the new system and processes will be. The RHA don’t seem hugely impressed or reassured. https://www.rha.uk.net/news/press-relea ... cripple-uk Still, at least we’re going to be free of all that horrible red tape and bureaucracy!

Quote ="Sal Paradise"So you will aware of what is required to trade on WTO terms and how smooth it can be - that AAT has come in handy for you '" The gap between can and will is what has plagued this process since the off. They’re trying to recruit and train 50,000 new customs officers, and struggling. In part because of COVID-19, admittedly. And it must be tough to train when we don’t know what the new system and processes will be. The RHA don’t seem hugely impressed or reassured. https://www.rha.uk.net/news/press-relea ... cripple-uk Still, at least we’re going to be free of all that horrible red tape and bureaucracy!

Quote ="Mild Rover"The gap between can and will is what has plagued this process since the off. They’re trying to recruit and train 50,000 new customs officers, and struggling. In part because of COVID-19, admittedly. And it must be tough to train when we don’t know what the new system and processes will be. The RHA don’t seem hugely impressed or reassured. https://www.rha.uk.net/news/press-relea ... cripple-uk Still, at least we’re going to be free of all that horrible red tape and bureaucracy!'" This process is already in place for the US and China so we know what to expect - why are we creating mountains out of mole hils? Surely it is just an extension of what is already in place?

Quote ="Mild Rover"The gap between can and will is what has plagued this process since the off. They’re trying to recruit and train 50,000 new customs officers, and struggling. In part because of COVID-19, admittedly. And it must be tough to train when we don’t know what the new system and processes will be. The RHA don’t seem hugely impressed or reassured. https://www.rha.uk.net/news/press-relea ... cripple-uk Still, at least we’re going to be free of all that horrible red tape and bureaucracy!'" This process is already in place for the US and China so we know what to expect - why are we creating mountains out of mole hils? Surely it is just an extension of what is already in place?