Pyrrhic referendum victory asreality of more austerity kicks in

IT WAS nice while it lasted.

Our partners in Europe indulged the Government’s fantasy, that it is capable of renegotiating the crippling bank debt, for just 72 hours before pouring cold water on the fanciful claims on Monday.

Delirious after the referendum result, and after two months of strenuously avoiding any mention of bank debt for fear of antagonising hatchet-faced voters, suddenly Government representatives had bailout Tourette’s — everyone was talking about bank debt at every available opportunity.