Government has been a moderating influence on Brexiteers. David Davis, who once said that Britain could get a trade deal with the EU in two years, now favours a transition to give the government more time. Boris Johnson, Leave’s cheerleader for sovereignty, says that Britain could align with some EU rules. Even Liam Fox, the cabinet’s champion of new trade deals, is managing expectations. They may be “some time away”.

These ministers have not brought their parliamentary colleagues with them. Today The Times reveals that the 62 MPs who form the European Research Group (ERG), which campaigns for a hard Brexit, have written the prime minister a polite list of wholly unreasonable demands.

The cabinet is inching towards a compromise position as ministers prepare for