A Swiss-style Brexit would delight Nigel Farage

Someone near the top of government – let us give him the random alias Heremy Junt – is stoking the idea that post-Brexit trading arrangements with the EU constitute a disastrous impediment to UK economic growth. Heremy himself, or perhaps an authorised senior aide, has just briefed the Sunday Times that the way ahead could be to dump Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal and replace it with a ‘Swiss-style’ arrangement with Brussels.

Switzerland pays an annual fee to the European Commission in return for single market access almost identical to that enjoyed by EU member states. It also accepts the single market regulatory framework, including a decisive role for the European Court of Justice and the free movement of people.

Now if we suppose that Heremy sits for a prosperous home counties constituency that voted heavily for Remain in 2016, one can see why flying this kite might work well for him personally.