Talking tough

It did not take long for the new spirit of Brexit harmony ushered in by last weekend’s Brussels summit to evaporate. Theresa May returned from that meeting buoyed by the more emollient attitude on show among the leaders of the EU in contrast to the inflexibility of the European Commission negotiators. She told MPS on Monday that she was confident the UK would negotiate a special partnership with “our friends in the European Union”.

But anyone who thought that the hard part of Brexit would be the first stage, rather than the talks to follow over new trading arrangements will have been disabused by events since. First, Mrs May was the target of a hostile briefing to the German newspapers intended to wound even if it has been disowned by the alleged sources.

In the European Parliament yesterday Donald Tusk, the council president, called for the other 27 EU nations to remain united or risk being “defeated” in negotiations. This is the language of confrontation, not attenuation. Moreover, it is not being observed. Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, the largest group in the parliament, said it would oppose any plan that gave Britain the same benefits outside the EU as it had inside.

He regarded the two years from triggering Article 50 as the transition phase and would not favour an implementation period that allowed the UK preferential access to the EU market. This difference of view needs to be sorted out within the next 12 months because the MEPS have a veto on the eventual agreement. These are straws in the wind. Even if it is not its policy, the Government is right to make preparations for no deal.