Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal isn’t just about his own agenda, but also that of his powerful backers

It is one thing to make vague or withdrawable promises for the sake of getting a deal or a bill through parliament when the numbers are tight, but that is not a long-term strategy

The deal would satisfy no one (EPA)

It seems longer, but it was only two months ago when, at the G7 in Biarritz, Boris Johnson pledged a “fantastic deal” with Donald Trump’s USA “once we clear up some of the obstacles in our path”.

Trump, for his part, foresaw “lots of fantastic mini-deals”. Back in 2017, with Liam Fox (remember?) as secretary of state for international trade, a joint working party was set up which is “laying the groundwork for a potential, future free trade agreement once the UK has left the EU”, as the Office of the US Trade Representative summarises it.

In the past few weeks, the “fantastic deal” with the US has hardly been mentioned, while the “new deal” with the EU takes centre-stage.