Bluster behind us, now on to Brexit

So farewell then Donald Trump. As the dust settles on the bluster, the blimp and the breaches of protocol, many will be wondering whether the brief visit by the President of the United States achieved very much at all.

Beyond the public protests, it will be remembered for the rancour generated by his humiliating interview with The Sun, in which he criticised the prime minister, backed Boris Johnson for her job and warned her Brexit plan would scupper any hope of a trade deal with the US.

And for all the dismissals of ‘fake news, at their excruciating joint press conference the next day, there was little assurance that the so-called special relationship would result in any dividend for Britain when the time comes to seek fresh alliances following its “liberation” from Europe.

So perhaps it is what Mr Trump did not say that should be uppermost in the minds of MPs this week as Theresa May seeks to persuade them to back her blueprint for Brexit.

Today, MPs will vote on a series of amendments to the Customs Bill which threaten to scupper her plans for a “UKEU free trade area”. Tomorrow pro-EU Tories will seek to amend the Trade Bill to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU. It remains to be seen whether either will achieve anything other than a platform for more grandstanding but it is vital that Britain clarifies its future relationship with Europe as soon as possible.

Compared to what Mr Trump is offering, it is certainly looking like the more dependable partner.