Johnson’s foreign quarrels can’t conceal the truth about Brexit

Fishing rows notwithstanding, much of Europe looks on at the UK's plight with astonishment - and even, still, sympathy

At the recent celebration of the life and achievements of my friend and fellow Remainer John le Carre, I was asked by a leading academic whether I was absolutely certain that we could rejoin the European Union.

The answer is that I am not. But as the evidence of the damage of that foolish referendum decision accrues, it is becoming more and more certain that we should try. At the very least, we should be repairing fences and attempting to re-establish as close a relationship as possible - a cause championed by Labour's impressive shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves.