An island nation must trade with its nearest mainland, whatever our new Brexit opportunities minister claims.

Dear Reader, please look away now if you cannot bear any more about the negative effects flowing from the 2016 Referendum decision to withdraw from the European Union.

The Prime Minister has used the Tory conference to downplay the societal and economic impact already being felt around the UK by leaving the European Union.

It has been another gloomy week on the sunlit uplands of sovereign Britain, as a senior minister accused the EU of seeking “petty revenge” – and then hinted that the government might ban imports of European mineral water and seed potatoes.

Chlorinated chicken is just the start. The government intends to rip up food standards, public services and public protections.