For most of the 60 years that I have been an active Conservative voter (and for 23 years an MP), the politics of the party have reflected the belief that only a growing economy can provide jobs. As Benjamin Disraeli put it, economic progress and growth are central to efforts to improve the condition of the labour force.

The prospect of a no deal or a hard Brexit risks turning an economic setback into an economic disaster. It is only fair to note too that the politics of the Labour Party are designed to create an economic catastrophe.

In today’s world, tariffs are not a major obstacle to trade — except when it comes to agriculture. What matters much more are non-tariff barriers and the