FOR all our sakes, this farce has to end.
Even the most ardent Remainer must now admit that we have tried, and failed, to find a way through the EU’s maze of rules, demands and obfuscations while searching for a trade deal.
With three weeks to go before the transition period ends, a last-minute flurry of activity culminated in this week’s meeting between our Prime Minister and EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
A three hour, fish dinner ended in stalemate.
Armed with a democratic mandate to regain our sovereignty, Mr Johnson held his ground.
Mrs von der Leyen, on the other hand, was forced to return to her fast-splintering alliance of 27 EU overlords to ask for further instructions.
With each member country preoccupied with its own concerns, that’s not easy, as unseemly squabbles erupt.
The French, for example, are demanding concessions on fishing which would render us the only nation on earth not in charge of our own waters.
The German-sponsored so-called ‘level playing field’ at first appeared acceptable because we already adhere to, or surpass, most EU standards.
But then came the demand that we should observe all their future rules, in perpetuity.
The final straw is the continued primacy of the European Court of Justice in any arbitration.
Its continued role in the Northern Ireland Protocol has led to deep suspicions over Mr Gove’s side agreement this week.
The whole point of Brexit is that we make, and live, by our own laws.
Lest any forget, this is enshrined in clause 38 of the Withdrawal Act, which the EU signed.
I’ve always hoped for a deal, but, regrettably, that appears impossible now.
On Sunday, let’s get our country back and move on.