Theresa May’s predicament, as she seeks Britain’s departure from the European Union, is that it is impossible to negotiate with people who are so unreasonable. No matter what she puts to them, they say no. United in contemptuous hostility to any suggestion, they delphically pretend they have no need to compromise while offering no constructive proposal of their own. I feel for the prime minister having to negotiate with these dreadful people. After failing to get any sense out of Michael Gove, David Davis, Liam Fox and Boris Johnson, it must be a relief to go to Brussels and talk to that suave Michel Barnier.

The cabinet meets at Chequers today to hatch an 11th-hour negotiating proposal. The name of the prime minister’s country residence…