Bespoke Brexit Possible but Unlikely to be as Good as EU Membership.

Sheltering from the rain

French President Emmanuel Macron gave the clearest message on the realities of Brexit in his interview on the BBC, broadcast today, stating that any future relations the UK had with Brussels:
“will be by definition less deep than today,

The deepest possible relationship is being a member of the European Union. So you have to be realistic, and be fair with people – as you decided to leave and not be part of the single market, that’s a function of the nature of the negotiation.

You can have some deeper relations than some others. For instance, we have a deeper relationship with Norway than the one we have with Canada. So it depends on the outcome of the negotiations.

But for sure – except if you change your mind – you will not be part of the single market, as you will not be part of the European Union.”

Meanwhile, Jacob Rees-Mogg is concerned that there are no arrangements to have the bells of Big Ben toll on the 19th March 2019 when Britain exits the EU. A House of Commons spokesman said that Big Ben would sound during "important national events" but did not include leaving the EU as an example of one.

Grim rainy weekend continues. Too tired to do much. Apparently France has the seen the least amount of sunshine for a January since records began. seems much like it here.