How Boris can avoid May’s Brexit trap during EU trade talks

Much of the nation breathed a sigh of relief when the exit poll was released. Whatever one’s views of the Tories, their clear majority has at least saved the country from yet more years of argument and damaging uncertainty. All the other major parties were committed to overturning the result of the 2016 referendum. At heart, the election outcome was a validation of democracy: voters do not like the sight of politicians ignoring their clear instructions that the UK must leave the EU.

But despite the emphatic result, it did not take long for some to try to reframe the debate in a pro-remain direction. Boris, we were told, could use his large majority to pivot to a “softer Brexit”. Indeed, this is the eager expectation of some on the EU negotiating side.

‘Softer Brexit’ is code for long term commitments to align the UK with EU regulations and, if at all possible, tariffs.