Brexit Bulletin: EU judge compares Brexit to Dunkirk

Good afternoon.

Dunkirk spirit: defined as “stoicism and determination in a difficult or dangerous situation, especially as displayed by a group of people.”

We’ve all got it, or so we are told. But according to one very senior judge, Britain’s departure from the bloc is less reminiscent of Dunkirk spirit than of...well, just Dunkirk.

“I can’t recall a greater sense of crisis since [the evacuation of] Dunkirk in 1940 or Suez [Crisis] in 1956 for the United Kingdom,” Ian Forrester QC, a British judge at the EU General Court in Luxembourg, said today, according to the Parr news agency. 

I presume Mr Forrester believes Brexit reflects a humiliating retreat during the darkest period of a war with the continent.

Brexiteers might also view the past two years as a Dunkirk of sorts, but for quite a different reason: it was a daring escape from a hairy situation.

Either way, none of us seem to be able to escape the cliche of relaying our experience of Brexit back to World War Two - as well as Suez, now and then.

This has got me wondering whether there are other historical examples that readers feel are a better prism through which we can view Brexit. Do get in touch via the feedback form below if you do.

In the meantime, have a read of the fascinating pen portrait below from my colleague Peter Foster, on where we are two years after the referendum.

This just in: Of the 49,000 words in the draft Withdrawal Agreement- the Brexit divorce deal - a paltry 2,500 words have been agreed on by the UK and EU. Hats off to Bloomberg's Ian Wishart for doing the totting up.

Farewell for now

After three weeks of looking after the Brexit Bulletin, I must now place the reins back in the capable hands of Asa Bennett.

His nostos commences on Monday, when more fire and fury from the Brexit negotiations is due to come.

In the meantime, I hope readers have enjoyed my brief stint.

It’s been a good run, the highlight of course being the Brexit Bulletin’s successful push to save Penka the Bulgarian cow.

If you’re a Twitter user and you’d like to keep following my thoughts on Brexit (or just shout at me about free trade deals) do find me @jameserothwell.

Enjoy the weekend.