The cold reality of Brexit is biting – and it looks like worse is to come

Officials in both London and Brussels have been surprised at how quickly talk of a positive new partnership has evaporated, writes Andrew Grice

UK chief trade negotiator David Frost in Downing Street with Boris Johnson (PA)

The cold reality of Brexit is biting. UK exports to the EU fell by more than 40 per cent in January; although ministers hope this will prove a blip, businesses doubt it. Exporters are at a disadvantage because the EU introduced full border checks on UK goods on New Year’s Day. In contrast, an unprepared UK has delayed checks on EU imports until January next year.

Many UK companies are tied up in red tape. The irony is that Brexiteers promised to cut it, not allow it to multiply. Boris Johnson told us that Brexit “will be an opportunity for this country to get rid of some of the burdensome regulation that has accreted over the last 44 years”.

The diplomatic temperature is also getting colder. Officials in both London and Brussels told me they were surprised how quickly talk of a positive new partnership when the Christmas Eve trade deal was done has evaporated. Ominously, they believe things can only get worse before they can get better.