Conservative’s admission that no-deal Brexit remains on the table exposes Johnson’s sloganeering for what it is

Even if the PM gets his deal through in January, Britain faces another no-deal knife-edge at the end of next year, says Andrew Woodcock

There is a flimsiness to some of the PM’s promises (Reuters)

Rishi Sunak’s admission that no-deal preparations will continue even if the Conservatives win a majority in the Commons has shone a spotlight on what is really at stake in a general election where many of the protagonists appear to be shadow boxing.

The chief secretary to the Treasury’s words have exposed the flimsiness of Boris Johnson’s central promise that handing him victory will in some way “get Brexit done” and allow the country to move on.

In reality, the withdrawal agreement which Mr Johnson hopes to ratify soon after the election and put into effect on 31 January is merely the first stage in what are likely to be lengthy negotiations over the UK’s future relationship with the remaining EU.