• WHY does no one remember the first day of negotiations with the European Union?

Michel Barnier told Theresa May and David Davies that there was some legal reason why the EU was forbidden to talk about trade with a country that is technically still a member. Inexplicably Theresa and David said OK!

The following day’s Guardian headline read: “UK capitulates on first day of negotiations with EU.” It was obvious that as all the UK wanted was trade, the “negotiations” would be invalid.

You can’t negotiate only one side of a treaty while ignoring the other. Maybe we should make a case to the European Court of Justice.

I have heard mentioned both that there is nothing in EU law preventing them negotiating trade and divorce simultaneously and also that they passed such a law not long before the UK referendum. Will someone please find out if either is the case?

DEK MESSECAR
Albert Street, NW1