These deals show any hope of rejoining the EU is over

The Brexiteers are crowing. The two major trade deals struck in one week are proof, they say, of how they were right all along, that Britain would only prosper from leaving the EU.

- CHRIS BLACKHURST

Putting aside the fact that both agreements have provoked discord - India's because of the exemption from national insurance of secondees and America's due to its narrow scope and limited concessions - there is no doubt they represent an achievement for Sir Keir Starmer and his team.

They have taken a long time coming but that does not make them less commendable. Yes, they are precisely the type of pact we were promised when we left. Britain, we were assured back then, would be able to strike out on its own and negotiate independently of the hindrance of the European bloc.

So, why on the same day that Donald Trump and Starmer conducted their unlikely bromance via speaker phone, did Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey say the UK must do everything to rebuild trade with the EU? ...

Choosing his words carefully, Bailey said: "Having a more open economy to trade with the European Union would be beneficial, because there has been a fall-off in goods trade with the EU over recent years." Doubtless mindful of provoking a row and reopening referendum wounds, Bailey refused to pass judgement on the UK's exit from the EU. He did not need to. The results speak for themselves: the EU is the UK's largest trading partner, but in key areas like food and drink, exports have dropped by more than a third since we departed.