We’re hearing the howls of outrage from Brexiteers at the outcomes of their own project

Warnings that Brexit would inevitably mean red tape at the borders, delays and costs for exporters and a consequent hit to the UK economy were pooh-poohed as ‘project fear’, writes Andrew Woodcock

‘If you force a certain type of Brexit, then that has consequences,’ says Irish foreign minister (Getty)

One of the more jaw-dropping aspects of the first few weeks of 2021 for Westminster watchers has been the howls of outrage from Brexiteers at the outcomes of their own project.

From the start, erecting barriers to trade with the EU was at the heart of the Leave programme, even if its proponents were keener to talk about unleashing global Britain or stopping freedom of movement or taking back budget contributions from Brussels.

Warnings that Brexit would inevitably mean red tape at the borders, delays and costs for exporters and a consequent hit to the UK economy were pooh-poohed as “project fear”, while Leavers were coy until the referendum was over about whether they in fact wanted to quit the single market and customs union.