Those who misled the country over Brexit are usually quieter these days. They do not hang their heads in shame, but change the subject whenever they can. They deflect with their new war-cry that Britain must also leave the European convention on human rights.

As the effects of their wicked Brexit folly worsen by the month, they rarely get a chance to whoop: “We were right!” So their glee was unrestrained when the great US global bully gave Britain a less hard beating with a 10% tariff on its goods, compared with the EU, which was walloped with 15%.

Their joy overflowed when the business and trade secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, conceded: “I’m absolutely clear, this is a benefit of being out of the European Union, having our independent trade policy, absolutely no doubt about that.” But what else can a trade secretary, speaking through gritted teeth, actually say? In his attempts to attract foreign investment, he can hardly tell the truth about the damage done by leaving the EU.

These advocates of Brexit should gloat while they can. When the French prime minister called the EU’s deal with Donald Trump a “soumission” (submission), Kwasi Kwarteng seized on the word in a piece for the Telegraph, writing: “For the French, with their memories of capitulation to the Nazis in 1940, the word is even more associated with abject humiliation than it is in English.” Yes, that’s the same Kwarteng who hurled the British economy over a cliff only three years ago.

“This trade deal is the EU’s greatest humiliation since Britain voted to leave”, read the headline on his column. But he would never confess that the difference between a 10% and 15% tariff with the US is minimal, since we trade

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