Labour isn’t focused on the second, preferring to blame others for problems, and too many of its activists aren’t the first, either.
Thoughtful, polite and Left-of-Centre, he was the Eurosceptic whom federalists found it hardest to dislike.
By reaching a deal in Brussels, the Tory anarchist has exceeded what the official classes and conventional wisdom supposed was possible.
He says again that there is no need for any further prolongation, and that the deal is about people and peace.
“If we have a deal we have a deal. And there is no need for any kind of prolongation. That’s not only the British view that’s my view too.”
The Irish Government have failed to grasp the extent to which unionist concerns would be listened in London.
The former Prime Minister also failed to grasp that Merkel was not going to do anything very much for him.
He also appears to describe the idea as “a typical British lie”.
He adds that Johnson has reiterated that the United Kingdom will leave the EU on October 31st “avec ou sans accord”, despite Benn’s Act.
Their words, like Johnson’s visit itself, look more like more gambits in a blame game than a genuine change of heart.
Many of our proposals can be introduced quickly. Some might take 12 – 15 months. We don’t believe anything will take longer than two to three years.
It’s not an optional extra – it’s crucial to delivering an effective Brexit and making the most of the opportunities outside the EU.
The big prize will be that the UK’s economic and trade freedom will be restored, something May’s backstop would have prevented, potentially indefinitely.