The leaked letter from David Davis to the prime minister says it all. The government has taken legal advice on how it can stop the European Commission removing privileges that the UK has as a member of the EU. Quite appropriately, the lawyers involved seem to have told the Brexit secretary that the chance of a successful action against a decision you yourself have taken is slim, to say the least. Like taking out an injunction to stop your ex-husband filing for divorce after you asked for the separation.

From the moment the government’s “cake and eat it” Brexit strategy became clear, it was obvious to some of us that before long, reality would bite. The single market is a deal. There may be parts