Cambridge spies and Brexiters have a lot in common

As Simon Kuper points out in his excellent book, both groups betrayed us to Moscow - but the former did it deliberately

The chaos caused by Brexit is here for all but the most pigheaded Brexiters to see. Why, no less a figure than the minister for Brexit opportunities", one Jacob Rees-Mogg, finds himself having to delay further implementation of customs bureaucracy because of the damage even he can see in front of him. Bringing in full checks the government had agreed in order to get Brexit done" would, said Rees-Mogg, have been an act of self-harm", adding an extra 1bn to the already enormous cost of Brexit. No, I am not making this up.

There was another priceless example of what a nonsensical government we have when Conor Burns, the minister of state for Northern Ireland, appeared on Channel 4 News last Wednesday.