Hammering the point home was the Bank of England, which on the same day predicted a 10% hit over just five years. Both teams of economists (or rather propagandists) behind the data anticipated a much gentler adjustment under the terms of trade Mrs May is lining up with the EU: a 3.9% gap over fifteen years according to the BoE, equal to the worst case scenario under the government’s forecasts, although Whitehall believes it’s more likely to be around 2.1%, which would still lop off £50bn in output. The message was loud and clear, even with May’s deal, Brexit is a bad idea.

“I don’t think he’s greatly respected and he’s been deeply politicised to the damage of the Bank of England’s reputation,” sighed Jacob Rees-Mogg who led the charge against Project Fear 2.0. Former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, Andrew Sentance questioned the Bank’s independence after it gave “such prominence to these extreme scenarios and forecasts.” Even the anti-Brexit, Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman took aim at the Bank, claiming its forecast scenario was “pretty far out on a limb” and that its assumptions “do not follow from basic trade theory.”

This week she began a tour of the country to rally support behind her withdrawal agreement, the idea being that a surge of popularity in the counties will frighten elected representatives in Westminster. A planned televised debate between May and Jeremy Corbyn, both Remain campaigners is designed to have a similar effect with Tory association chairmen. Neither objective looks likely to be fulfilled. According to a recent poll, 52% of voters prefer a no deal over Remain. The proposal on offer looks a lot more like Remaining in the EU.

Meanwhile, resistance to the deal in Parliament grows by the day. MPs’ public objections have now risen to a hundred. Earlier in the week, the Sun predicted a losing margin of 200 at the meaningful vote scheduled for 11 December with a minister citing a “bandwagon” effect.

A naval analogy would have been more appropriate. No-one wants their political career to drown aboard this sinking ship. Government whips are now working feverishly to get the gap down to 100. Under that threshold, Downing Street thinks a second vote is still winnable. Ambitious in the extreme, there won’t be a second vote if more than 400 MPs vote against the government.

“If that’s not possible, we’ll be calling upon the government then to join us in a public vote,” he added. Thankfully, the Tories remain steadfast in ruling out such a disgraceful affront to the electorate. Unsurprisingly, Brussels is doing its bit, mooting an extension to article 50.

An extension could fulfil one of two Remain objectives. The extra time would transform a second referendum from a fantasy to a possibility, it could also help facilitate an unacceptable Norway-Turkey hybrid of the Single Market and the Customs Union. Brussels won’t change the deal unless it is on those terms, unfortunately, many MPs would gladly do so.

This is where the “EFTA option” looms menacingly large. For a start, it is scandalously misrepresented by parliamentarians like Nick Boles as a potential route out of the EU and into an alternative trading arrangement. Boles has been heading up this campaign for several months now and appears to be gaining traction, particularly with the commentariat who don’t see any way out for May but will not consider a clean departure from the EU. This is why a Swiss or Norway-style arrangement is incorrectly presented in the media. When was the last time you heard it mentioned it would entail free movement?

The relationship EFTA countries have with the EU is defined by controlled customs borders. Because of the Irish backstop and Labour’s obsessions with “a” customs union, any arrangement negotiated by the Commons will go way beyond EFTA.

EFTA member states can negotiate their own trade deals, Britain will not because the EU has the upper hand and will also insist on us staying in the CU.

It is too early to say what Benn’s atrocious amendment will evolve into. Labour look set to back it. Dominic Grieve a Tory traitor has signed it, the omens are bad.

“There is nothing in WTO rules that forces anyone to put up border posts,” said Keith Rockwell who went on to explain the WTO works on a litigation basis. It does not send agents out into the field. If the UK implements a customs system that does not provoke complaints from other members there’s nothing to worry about.

Invisible customs controls are actionable in the present, that has been proven and if the UK were to go with no deal, the EU wouldn’t lodge a case in Geneva. Brussels has said that in the event of Britain withdrawing without terms it would not force the Irish Republic to implement controls at the border.

“Sounds like a great deal for the EU,” he told the media, adding: “Right now as the deal stands, they may not be able to trade with the US. And I don’t think they want that at all, that would be a very big negative for the deal.” Cabinet members were dispatched to provide assurances, but what could they do?

Based on what we know from the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration there is little to no scope for an independent trade policy. You can’t argue with the facts, and you can’t argue with the Donald.

As it happens, with May in Argentina to meet G20 leaders for the next 48 hours, her PR machine is today pushing the near non-existent trade benefits of her deal. This morning’s statement from Downing Street only focused on commerce in the Continent, if she wanted to talk about trade with nations beyond Europe’s borders – where all the growth and opportunities lie – she would have nothing to say.

Marshalled onto the airwaves this morning Trade Secretary Liam Fox did an even worse job, admitting Britain would remain aligned with EU goods regulations, a pre-condition for remaining in the Customs Union.

But for every minion of Mrs May, sent out to disingenuously portray her deal as the only plausible one, there’s a Trump, a Rockwell, and a Rees-Mogg, along with 99 other Tory MPs, the whole of the DUP and the wider independence movement to expose the nonsense. Whatever happens, we are far from a minority in insisting we deserve better.

Kind regards,
The Leave.EU Team