In the final rundown to bitterly contested and extremely divisive negotiations, it is only to be expected that all those involved will seek to try and push the other side into a corner, force the opposition to blink first, fly kites as to what is possible to sell, and persuade opponents that there is no alternative and this is the best offer they can get.

That is what is now happening in the Brexit negotiations as the EU seek to force the UK Government to accept their draconian solution to trade across the Irish Border and customs arrangements between the UK and the EU.

To date the Government has signalled to the EU negotiators that we are a soft touch who can be pushed around. As a result, we have encouraged the EU to stick to their totally unrealistic demands that internal economic and regulatory boundaries be imposed within the UK, otherwise there will be no deal on future trade arrangements.

Privately and publicly, the Prime Minister is saying that she will not accept any break-up of the UK, but the briefings and leaks about the shape of the Irish backstop, so foolishly and unnecessarily conceded last December, would suggest that some consideration is being given to the destructive demands being made by Barnier & Co.

These include: the UK staying within the customs union for an unspecified time limited period; an arrangement which would exclude Northern Ireland from any trade arrangements which the UK would make with other countries in the future; and EU regulations being applied to goods and services produced in Northern Ireland, with checks on movements of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

If the Government is putting these proposals into the public domain to test the water, our advice is to get its toe out quickly or it is going to get burnt!