The momentous Brexit year of 2017 recedes quickly into memory as the challenges of 2018 loom. If Brexit is to be a success we need to ditch some ideological baggage, develop a vision and get prepared.

There are several options for the UK. If our objectives are to provide some certainty for businesses, replicate mutual access, allow some opportunity for wider free trade agreements (FTAs) and give scope to agree a long-term bespoke deal with the EU, then initially rejoining Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland in the European Free Trade Association (Efta) would be a sensible and pragmatic first move. Efta was an appropriate staging post when joining the EU, so surely the same applies when leaving.

Crucially, within Efta there are a range of