A year ago he had led Britain out of the European Union without a deal.

He had been cheered to the echo at the Tory conference. The Brexit party had plummeted in the polls. But things had gone quickly wrong elsewhere. Was it really 12 months already since British lorry drivers fought daily running battles with French customs officers in Calais? How long it seemed since British Airways announced it was relocating to Paris and Barclays moved to Dublin. The mass layoffs following the S&P rating downgrade of Britain to BB status were especially traumatic.
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It is important to be clear about three things concerning a no-deal Brexit. First, a no-deal outcome on or before 31 October is now increasingly likely. Second, it will cause real damage to the country both in the short and the long term – damage about which the Brexiters are lying. And, third, it does not have public support; only 28% of all voters back no deal, and just 47% of Tory voters. Among under-25s, a mere 8% support no deal.