The mammoth task leaders are dodging

BREXIT’S the elephant in the room that can be avoided no longer when quitting the European Union plunges a Disunited Kingdom deeper into economic horror.

Polls finding clear majorities recognising that leaving was a costly mistake and a significant proportion of those who voted out want to be back in is a turning point.

People are ahead of leaders in both main national political parties as everyday experiences and experts, valued once again, are why the metaphorical penny is dropping faster than the pound.

Twice as damaging as Covid in the long term and slashing trade as well as lengthening holiday passport queues, the bankruptcy of the Brextremists’ plan to convert Britain into an offshore haven for the filthy rich was finally exposed by the disaster of Trussonomics.

Gnawing on the elephant’s bones, Rishi Sunak (wanting out six years ago) and Jeremy Hunt (warning then that departure would be a mistake) are now a Prime Minister and Chancellor denying widely accepted reality by pretending Brexit isn’t damaging.

Covid and Putin may be unforeseen but Brexit and Conservative financial calamities were avoidable ingredients in the current unnecessary age of crushing Tory austerity.

That the £55billion so-called black hole calculated by derided Conservative fiscal orthodoxy is greater than Brexit’s estimated £80bn-plus price tag adds food for thought.

Downing Street drenching in cold water a weekend report that the Conservative Government is mulling Swissstyle ties with Brussels smacked of paralysis.

So too did Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth insisting Labour would also not seek a return to the frictionless trade of the Single Market and fill NHS vacancies with freedom of movement when official studies emphasise migration would power economic prosperity.

Labour are in denial about the value of EU membership, a position 2016 Remainer Keir Starmer currently shares with Leaver Sunak.

The truth is that both are out of step with public opinion on a significant issue.

Britain’s future remains in Europe. This should be a moment to shout that loud and proud. What a tragedy so few leaders do.