Blame the wall...
As Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is trying to get the NIP Bill through parliament, a suicidal policy that will dominate her foreign affairs as PM.
Now amid all the energy and cost of living crisis noise a little signal from the EU has been missed.
No talks to improve relations while the Bill continues to go through parliament. Even invoking Article 16 seems unlikely to work.
You see, the EU and its member states listen, telling hustings that the EU only compromises when you are tough and hold their feet to the fire, tends to rebound on you.
Washington also listens and is very, very unhappy. The UK can expect little help from there.
Liz Truss will therefore find herself driving towards a brick wall very quickly. She is, it seems, willing to crash the car and blame the wall.
Cynical, stupid or delusional?
Take your pick, it doesn’t matter, this will not work.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.