Michel Barnier makes easy work of David Davis

On Wednesday evening, David Davis left his sick bucket at home and made his way to the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster for an hour long grilling courtesy of Andrew Neil. At the Spectator event, the Brexit Secretary spoke of his supreme confidence that the final deal would be voted through – and that the makings of a trade deal would be know by this time next year.

However, it was Davis’s comment about Michel Barnier – the Chief EU negotiator that caught Steerpike’s attention. The Cabinet minister joked that Barnier had said it was not ‘too hard’ to get Davis to give in:

AN: The £37bn divorce bill agreed last November, is that the final bill?

DD: Umm… yeah.. I think so. The thing I’d say to you is this…

AN: Shouldn’t we know so?

DD: Alright, I know so – if you press me very hard I’ll give in

AN: It wasn’t too hard…

DD: That’s what Michel [Barnier] always says

While the audience was certainly amused, Mr S suspects Brexiteers concerned the government has already conceded too much will fail to see the funny side…