Hard-Brexit fantasists dislike hard economic realities | William Keegan

Having complained that no one took no-deal seriously, the ideologues now seem unhappy that it is getting close scrutiny

It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of fantasists. Worried that the government was not making enough preparations for the possibility of no deal being reached in the "negotiations" with the other 27 members of the EU, the voluble Brexiters within and without the cabinet called for evidence.

They have got it, in spades. The so-called impact assessments for no deal are, quite simply, horrifying. They were underlined recently by the Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, who rightly drew attention to the messages coming through loud and clear from business, trade unions, the City and, not least, food suppliers, road hauliers, ports and airports.

My suspicion is that the MPC only raised interest rates the other week to give it scope to lower them again

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