Talks reopen but core differences remain

Over the last three years, Brexit has been a toxic, deeply divisive issue. Old scars have been picked. Faded, and, until June 2016, latent, differences have been re-energised. Hard-won progress on the relationships that cross and knit these islands together has been — needlessly — strained.

When, or if, they will be rebuilt remains an open question. Thirty years of work was, tragically, all but undone in three years. However, the mood music has changed, even if only slightly. As deadlines and the proximinity of chaos concentrated minds, some sort of progress in negotiations was essential.