Lockdown starts Thursday

If it lifts on schedule, businesses will have just 8 working days to implement and train new software, systems and permits to handle whatever post-Brexit trading arrangements the govt agrees

Govt cannot currently describe those arrangements

8 days

Even if it lifts when planned, millions will still be isolating or working remotely, and few (if any) of these businesses will have had significant income for 10 months. No reserves to pay for software, legal advice, new procedures etc.

8 working days. No guidance. No money. Go

Imagine on Monday your boss came to and said: "Here's a new legal framework, we need legal advice, software, permits and staff training. You've got until the following Thursday, everyone's off sick, and its Christmas. And there's no money"

That. But x 4.9 million companies

Even if you could get it done, there are, I repeat, 4.9 million businesses. Obviously not all will need to change.

But if only 1% need help, that's 49,000 bits of legal advice needed before they can act on the new trade deal. And only around 2000 international trade lawyers.

And every one of the businesses needing legal advice will be dependent on trade (otherwise, why would they need legal advice on it).

And again, all this supposes the govt has even signed a deal by then. They are overwhelmed. Not just MPs, but the whole civil service.

Practically every govt in country on earth is run ragged by Covid. They only have so much bandwidth. They can do little else.

Even before Covid, experts warned UK civil authorities didn't have enough bandwidth to handle Brexit.

We have Brexit PLUS Covid, and I days.