So what's the problem? If they can't stop it, they have to mitigate the effects.
There's a limit to what the EU will do for UK when it is to the detriment of the 27 remaining members.
This is partly a function of the fact that the EU tries to work as a single economic unit - which is what the net payments from the wealthier countries are about.
Out is good, from the point of view of freedom of action, but it is not reasonable to expect totally free trade with the EU at no cost.
At heart, I would prefer to be 'out' - i.e. not an 'all-in' member of the EU which still has deep rooted problems as a half-baked superstate (which we never were, with our rebate, opt-outs, and euro-avoidance). But it is very much in our interests to cooperate with the bloc and that means give and take, either as a member or as a partner.
I don't accept that the main driver of the EU's negotiating stance is to punish the UK or to deter other potential leavers, although it might be a consideration that denies us any favours. Conspiracy theories are fake news for the most part. Self-interest on the other hand is a given, but it is usually simple when full understanding is established.
The knee-jerk grandstanding of politicians is not helpful in these circumstances. The parliamentary debate yesterday was a huge disappointment, with most contributors just repeating the same claptrap. I lost count of the times TM said "I refer my the honourable member to my previous answer to this question".
The SNP were the worst, I think every one of them joined in, none had anything useful to say and they all badgered Corbyn to go for a confidence motion - I assume they were all reading from the same bit of paper.
I can't imagine where it will go from here - May has threatened the Brexiters with losing Brexit altogether, and the Remainers with a 'no deal Brexit'. To expect the EU to give the UK a contractual opt-out on the backstop is a daydream, so all she has really done is delay, presumably in the hope that enough will back down.
Meanwhile the 'people's vote' idea is spreading like Japanese knotweed.
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