Faced with a humiliating parliamentary defeat, powered by one of the largest Tory backbench rebellions in years, the Government has, very reluctantly, agreed to Labour’s demand that the “Brexit plan” be now published. Credit, then, to Jeremy Corbyn’s team, and those pesky Tories with minds of their own.

This is a great relief for those who assumed – supported by overwhelming evidence – that there was no such thing as a “Brexit plan” and that ministers were making it up as they went along. Now, it seems, there was masterplan all the time.

The details we have yet to see, so disappointment may still await. Nonetheless, the serious business of getting the best deal possible from the bad starting point of Brexit can now get under way with the benefit of greater public knowledge and parliamentary scrutiny. This is, in itself, of great economic value.

It is a truism, made no less true by constant parroting, that business yearns for certainty – which is to say that companies are unwilling to invest in people, new kit or marketing campaigns, or in building houses, factories and offices, if they have no idea what their return from that investment is likely to be.

About the only business that has been given anything like that certainty would appear to be Nissan UK, whose bosses have been assured that the Government will look after them, come what may. Very good news for them, but the rest of the motor manufacturers, and British industry and commerce in general, might appreciate the same kind of courtesy.

More transparency about Brexit, even if it reveals some half-baked notions, is better for investment, job creation and trade than no knowledge at all when the worst is the safest assumption to make.

Falling investment – of which there are already some signs, such as surveys of business confidence – depresses the economy in the short term, threatening to spiral into a self-reinforcing decline in output; and it is also deeply damaging to the long-term prospects of boosting productivity, and thus wages and living standards. These truths bear repeating.

It is often stated, too, that revealing the “plan”, if such it is, would damage the UK's negotiating position. But why? We are not engaged in a game of poker. There is no great harm in our European counterparts knowing what we wish for, because they will shortly be told in any case.

Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Show all 13 1 /13 Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Supreme Court Brexit Challenge People wait to enter the public gallery outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private arrives at the Supreme court in London on the first day of a four-day hearing Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waves the EU flag in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Satirical artist Kaya Mar poses with two of his paintings in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin. The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Businesswoman Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Attorney General Jeremy Wright arrives at the Supreme Court in London EPA Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Protesters outside the Supreme Court in London, where the Government is appealing against a ruling that the Prime Minister must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union PA wire Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protesters wearing a judge's wigs and robes stands outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waiting to enter the public gallery waves a European Union flag outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters

When they are, we may safely assume that the details of the British negotiating stance will be rapidly leaked. Then the British people, and their MPs, will learn of their Government’s activities via the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung or the Corriere della Sera rather than their own secretaries of state. Realisation of this truth may also have pushed the Government towards a more conciliatory, and realistic, approach to parliamentary criticism.

We also know – and are constantly reminded – that the European position is clear. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has repeated that the UK will not be able to pick and choose the elements of EU membership it would like to retain, such as access to the single market, while being free to reject the ones it does not, such as the free movement of labour. He adds that while a “transitional agreement” is possible, a full deal will have to be negotiated by October 2018.

Theresa May unveils latest Brexit soundbite

Mr Barnier, then, is free to outline the EU’s negotiating attitude, even as Theresa May is set on a futile attempt to maintain radio silence over her own. “Brexit Means Brexit” was an oxymoronic slogan for any prime minister; far better that she starts to talk turkey.