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Is Brexit coming or is Brexit going?

Are we in or are we out? Uncertainty is making Brexit feel like a long and messy divorce, writes David Smith

Financial crashThis has been the strangest of years in many ways. A year ago, it was perhaps obvious that Theresa May would face a struggle to get her Brexit withdrawal agreement through the House of Commons. But the extent of her difficulty, and the fact that she would not survive as prime minister beyond the summer, was not generally predicted. We thought then that Britain would leave the European Union on 29 March – deal or no-deal – and of course we did not.

Boris Johnson then doubled down on May’s firm leaving commitment with his do-or-die, deal or no-deal pledge to leave the EU on 31 October. Of course, we did not, and, despite the firmness of the new prime minister’s promise, it was no great surprise. Businesses had prepared for 29 March, and built up stocks in anticipation, boosting economic growth in the first quarter.