The nation is as divided as ever 13 months before the UK is due to leave the European Union. Boris Johnson’s Valentine’s bouquet for remainers amounted to no more than slightly grubby cellophane wrapping. Many leavers wonder why he bothered: “We won the vote, why don’t we just get on with it?”

There is just one thing the electorate agrees on: the government is making a hash of Brexit. In YouGov’s tracking poll, 60% say the situation is being handled badly compared with 22% who think it is going well. The margin of disapproval has weighed heavily against the government ever since last summer’s general election.

A third side to this political battle of wills is being overlooked. Neither the 2016 referendum nor governments will