British government setting a hostile tone for Brexit talks

Theresa May and her ministers have adopted an antagonistic Brexit position, to which Europe has responded in kind. Ana Palacio reports.

THE French mathematician Blaise Pascal famously said: “It is not certain that everything is uncertain.”

Had he been around for Brexit, he might not be so sure. While a moderate outcome remains likely, uncertainty and animosity have been on the rise in recent weeks. This is the Brexit paradox: The longer it takes for pragmatism to re-enter the debate, the higher the chance that the chilling effect of the unknown will cause permanent damage to both the UK and the EU.