Time to turn talk of Brexit into a reality

“Some will complain about Brexit for as long as they live, but what matters now is the deal” “People in Scotland were largely in tune with the exit aspirations of the rest of Britain”

Theresa May began her Brexit mission with a “no turning back” battle cry as she ended the phoney war and triggered Article 50 to leave the EU.

Her “Brexit means Brexit” one-liner had finally come to pass after months of recrimination, assorted attempts to reverse it and doom-laden warnings of impending spontaneous combustion.

Life goes on, as they say, and we shall all have to adjust to the new territory we are in by looking forwards and not backwards all the time. Some will complain about Brexit for as long as they live, but what matters now is the deal.

It is a daunting mission for the primeminister, or even a potential political suicide mission, but there is a reality beneath endless layers of rhetoric and fist- shaking metaphors, which convulsed the Commons yesterday.

It can be found in a pragmatic world of negotiation and compromise, which should influence the talks.

Political talk is cheap, but the skill of the negotiator is priceless.

EU boss Donald Tusk’s “we are missing you already” was perhaps a nod to a necessity to stay friends after the divorce. The UK might pack a huge economic punch in Europe, but we still need each other as trading partners.

Securing some form of unconditional access to the EU single market is a smouldering stick of dynamite beneath the negotiating table on which the whole Brexit pack of cards rests. The thought of not having an negotiated arrangement is almost unthinkable – for both sides, despite the huffing and puffing. Howwell Scotland’s interests are taken into account will be watched with great intensity, but a significant and respected new survey suggested people in Scotland were largely in tune with exi t aspirations shared by the rest of Britain, and were not clamouring for special treatment as expressed by the Scottish Government.

Nicola Sturgeon demanded a spring 2019 deadline for a second independence referendum, believing a Brexit deal would be clear by then. But it has also become clear that talks could be extended by mutual consent beyond 2019. EU chiefs do not want to strike any trade deal until the UK leaves – a possible delay of three extra years.

Therefore, Scotland’s position might not be clear until 2022. Is that how long Ms Sturgeon might be forced to wait – until Mrs May is satisfied Scotland has the full picture?

It was ironic that while all this was going on, the unwitting architect of Brexit – David Cameron – was in Ukraine, telling students about their place in the world.

Is it too much to expect hostilities to cease while Mrs May gets on with this immense task? She vowed our “best days are ahead” - that is when we should judge her.