Wisdom, not aggression, is the key

This was a good speech. The Prime Minister was forthright that she is delivering on the promises of previous speeches and manifesto commitments: this Government will take Britain out of the customs union, single market and European Court of Justice.

Mrs May is sensible, pragmatic and generous in offering something to the EU whilst being clear on Northern Ireland. So I am content.

There are a few small points that will concern Leave campaigners, but we must recognise that we all will have to give up something to get a deal. Now is not the time to nitpick.

I disagree with those who have said that paying for associate membership of EU bodies such as the European Medicines Agency amounts to a betrayal.

Consider, for example, the European Aviation Safety Agency. Our own Civil Aviation Authority takes a leading role in providing the experts for that body, so in paying for associate membership of it we would, in effect, be paying our own people. Importantly, the sums involved will be tiny in comparison to what we have paid for EU membership.

Also, such decisions will be subject to British laws and courts. Likewise “binding commitments” will be on the basis of normal international treaty law and not subject to the ECJ.

So it has been a good week for the Prime Minister and a good day.

She has shown that being strong and clear works. It is now for the commission to respond with wisdom and not aggression.

‘We must recognise that we all will have to give up something to get a deal’