January 31st 2020 - 11.01pm
It's 11.01 pm on January 31st 2020 and I am no longer a part of the European Union. Neither are you. We have taken back control. We are our own bosses. Can you see the difference? Well, of course, if you could, if we were and if we had, we would be leaving at midnight GMT not midnight European time.
Never mind, we've cleared the first fence in what will be the Grand National of sovereignty. Sadly, the first fence is but a twig scattered idly on the ground in front of us. The next 29 fences are far higher, far more imposing and far thicker. Why did typing that last word make me think of Boris Johnson (the ex BOJO) and Nigel Farage (he of the petty little union flag waving)
Legally we may have left but we are now entering into a transition period where nothing will change, we will still abide by EU laws, we will still contribute to the EU budget but we will have no control whatsoever as to what laws the EU bring in and what they do with our contribution. Those who campaigned so hard for us to leave will tell you not to worry as this transition will only last until the end of December. They will also tell you that in the next 11 months before then we will negotiate wonderful trade deals with the EU, the USA and probably most of the rest of the world. However, this time they may not paint it on a big red bus.
Sadly, and I think this word may appear quite a lot now I am back grumping, if we fail to get this trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020, we will leave with no deal, something we could have done two years ago at least. We will have wasted time and money to achieve nothing.
It's a funny old world isn't it? Yes, is the answer you should be shouting from wherever you have chosen to celebrate this momentous occasion when nothing has changed......yet. It's a bit like celebrating the birth of a child by not putting on a condom.