Rotation is the clearest sign of intellectual muddle. When Britain left the EU, some leave supporters thought they could negotiate a bespoke agreement that would give them all the benefits of membership but none of the obligations. Then it was the Swiss model. Remember Chequers? It was the beginning of the end of Theresa May. The deal she finally negotiated would have kept the UK in the single market and the customs union for several years. The deal that was finally adopted comes under the moniker of Canada: a classic free trade deal.
Now the government is contemplating a rotation back to the Swiss model. After a predictable outcry following the reports in the Sunday Times, this has now been denied. The Tory party is back fighting its old divisions over Europe – through leaks for now.
The endless debate about the Swiss model reveals the sheer hopelessness of the current endeavour
What this story is telling us is that Brexit is dying, by neglect.
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