Coronavirus diary, Wednesday 15 July

After months, another subject has blundered back into the news - Brexit. And it just adds to the country's woes.
Blundered describes my view of the way the government has been forced to let us know what is happening, whether or not there is a deal. 

Michael Gove. Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters

The detailed information given by Mr Gove, the Cabinet Minister, makes worrying reading.

One thing is certain. After four years of acrimonious debate and months of on and off bargaining with the EU, Britain is facing even more  problems than coronavirus.

With just five months to go the government seems to be admitting there will be no deal, perhaps what the prime minister has always wanted. He has promised a bright new future when Britain 'takes back control'. Ominous words. 
Mr Gove is equally confident, but his plan does not engender confidence.

With the country facing ruin - the gravest financial crisis ever - we have been handed the first of what will be a torrent of bills.

A mere £705 million for the Great Britain/EU border - pin money compared with the billions Mr Sunak is taking from Britain's depleted coffers.

More than half will go to build up port infrastructure, including buying land for a massive lorry park to prevent paralysis on roads leading to ports.

To meet the extra work on trade checks at the borders 500 staff are being hired and trained.

This, said Mr Gove, would help Britain 'seize the opportunities from Brexit'. Here we go again. The same confidence, boasts, promises and hope that have characterised the government's dealings with coronavirus.

As usual, the opposition cry, too little, too late.

More serious is their claim of serious  trade problems, despite a  promise from the prime minister that Brexit would present no cross border difficulties, with  goods moving freely between the UK and Ireland. 

Mr Gove, stonewalling as usual, assures us that all is under control. We shall see.