The Irish border was always going to be a sticking point in Brexit talks

I’m afraid Brexit has always been about Ireland. Perhaps Salzburg will finally, brutally, illustrate that point. The Spectator declared its support for Leave in the final week of the 2016 referendum campaign. The editorial arguing in favour of a leave vote hinged not on free trade, but sovereignty: which is a different way of saying control. It did not mention Ireland at all – but very few did. It was of marginal interest.

I read that leader in Downing Street, where I then worked. I did not then, and do not now, agree with the sovereignty argument – but I can respect it. Since EU membership necessarily involves compromising on pure national sovereignty, it follows that a vote to leave offers the opportunity to reclaim some sovereignty. That is at least a better reason to leave than the proposition that exiting the world’s largest free trade area will offer the UK the opportunity to trade more, which is daft.

The problem is what to do with the sovereignty that is being reclaimed so painfully.