UKandEU

As a social scientist, I have to say the way things have gone could hardly have been more fascinating! We've been able to examine loads of unexpected phenomena like how to negotiate exit, how the EU behaved, what British Government looks like when we have a minority gov negotiating an issue that divides the nation down the middle etc etc! What has surprised me most is how politicians and civil servants didn't seem to grasp the full implications - economic, political and constitutional - of leaving the EU. It was relatively late in the day, for instance, that they realised Northern Ireland would be such a big issue.,

First, 'not normal' does not necessarily mean 'not good'! In a sense many people were fed up normality in 2016, which partly explains the vote. For me the most striking thing since 2916 has perhaps been the degree to which Governments and, to a degree the civil service, failed to appreciate what EU membership mean, and hence what ending it might involve. This from the state that had prided itself on, and been famed in other member states for, its 'Rolls Royce' administration.

Blimey. That's a tough one. I think the debate is so polarised at practitioner level it's hard to find people who are willing to be balanced - then again your job in politics is not to be balanced! Robert Tombs backed Leave and in his book has an interesting explanation as to why. Helen Thompson is someone who I'd always listen to who is interesting and original and makes you think. Similarly Jonathan Portes and Catherine Barnard are always worth listening to. But you'll notice I've named only academics!

Thank you so much for your questions everyone. I hope I managed to answer the odd one OK. And now I know what Reddit is!

To an extent yes. But also a pro-Brexit Government can hardly affird to admit that there are any costs. It's a shame. You could imagine us having an honest debate (where both sides were honest) and discussing the trade-offs between the short term economic impacts and the benefits of being self-regulating, able to shift political debate decisively etc.