Even now, Brexiteers retain the capacity to astonish those not intoxicated by the weapons-grade moonshine they have been foisting on a stupefied public. Consider the case of Steve Baker, self-styled Brexit hardman of the Tory back benches, who unusually is a member of Brexit’s intellectual and paramilitary wings.

Mr Baker deplores the likelihood that the United Kingdom will take part in the European parliament elections next month but consoles himself with being able to vote for Daniel Hannan, the Tory MEP whom he declares is “one of the great heroes of freedom”. Come again? I can’t see Mr Hannan and his ilk as kindred spirits of Vaclav Havel.

Mr Baker’s praise reminds us that there is no chance of reaching a Brexit compromise that can