UK has run out of lifelines and must face consequences of voting to leave the EU

As the Brexit talks stall, and David Davis resorts to name calling, Liam Fox raises charges of “blackmail” and the PM hits upon cut-and-paste future trade deals to mirror current EU trade deals in order to assuage the Japanese who see the UK as a back road into the EU, one must ponder – what next?

Michel Barnier insists that the EU will not unpick its four freedoms in order to kowtow to No 10’s sense of entitlement. After 40 years of rebates, optouts and Anglo-awkwardness, hestressesbrexitmeansbrexit. (I use “Anglo” as the UK Government stresses its Englishness in international affairs. Scots voted to remain!)

The constructive ambiguity has been found out. The half -baked one liners from David Davis over border controls which are not border controls, but will be monitored electronically so that custom dues can be paid, have been dubbed “fantasy” by the EU and retracted by the No 10 side.

How serious is it? The mainstream media are hinting that Theresa May is about to make an “intervention”. No details, but one could speculate: Beg for extensions of timescale? Change team? Sack David Davis and Liam Fox? Put Philip Hammond, or even her charismatic strong and stable self, in charge? Or will she simply do an about turn and resign?

It is clear that the UK side is out of its depth. Its overall awareness of the nature of the exit process, let alone the specifics of a bespoke “Brexit” process, is beyond its capacity.

There can be no more lifelines thrown to the UK from the EU. The UK has to face the consequences of the misinformation put out during the referendum.

Scots voted to remain. Perhaps we should watch with schadenfreude as the pretentiousness and pompousness of the faux “Brenglish” state is finally punctured. It has been a “lang time comin!”

JOHN EDGAR Merrygreen Place, Stewarton James Macintyre calls for a tougher line on the Brexit talks (Letters, 5 September). I agree, since EU negotiators are stalling and insisting that the so-called Brexit “divorce bill” must be agreed before talks move on to trade and a possible post-brexit transition phase. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has also insisted that the UK pays the EU’S numerous financial demands, which include funding for foreign aid, green projects and refugees programmes, even after Britain has left. Timeforatougherapproach. The German car manufacturers include Audi, BMW, Mecedes-benz, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen. The French manufacturers include Peugeot, Citroen and Renault. Italy has Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Fiat. Spain manufactures 2.7 million cars a year.

Negotiations with Barnier can be simplified by stating that Britain will impose an import tax on a different model of EU car every week until the EU drops its “divorce bill” threats and enters into meaningful talks. The quicker EU car manufacturers demand Barnier is sacked, the better.

CLARK CROSS Springfield Road, Linlithgow I trust Theresa May and the few adults in her Brexit team will take seriously the observation by Martin Selmayr, chief of staff to the European Commission President Jeanclaude Juncker, that it is still “legally” possible for the UK to reverse its decision to leave the EU. A fearsomely intelligent lawyer and diplomat, Selmayr comes from a distinguished Bavarian family which has produced generations of high-ranking administrators and army officers. He is a graduate of both the University of Geneva and King College London with a PHD in law.

He has repeatedly warned there were few economic positives to Britain leaving the EU and the impact would range from “pretty bad to very, very bad”. While the only people who can reverse it are the British, he said the EU should be careful not to slam shut any doors. (REV DR) JOHN CAMERON

Howard Place, St Andrews