Giles Merritt assesses British remorse for leaving the EU, and suggests that Brussels should weigh the advantages of a constructive new relationship.

In January 2020, as Britain was about to exit the EU, a post appeared on the London School of Economics (LSE) blog musing about the mechanism and conditions that might apply if Britain ever wanted to re-join.

The former head of the government legal service resigned when No 10 threatened to break an international treaty. With the difficult reality of Brexit now upon us, I asked whether we risk a repeat offence.

The hostility shown to the EU contrasts with the fawning attitude towards the US and fails to recognise the disparity in economic power.

"It is crystal clear that the measures do not alter the fundamental legal effect of the backstop, as previously and correctly explained by the Attorney General. The backstop will endure indefinitely, unless and until superseded by another agreement, save in the extreme and unlikely event that in future negotiations the EU acts in bad faith in rejecting the UK’s demands."