Barring a rapid revolt from MPs opposed to crashing out of the EU, a hard Brexit is now the most likely outcome at the end of October. To get a deal with Brussels, UK prime minister Boris Johnson would need to devise practical and workable alternative arrangements to normal border controls in Ireland.
The British government has had three years to come up with suggestions that work for legitimate trade, fraudsters and smugglers, but it still only mumbles about trusted trader schemes, number plate recognition and checks away from the border.
The only innovation coming out of Downing Street has been devising alternative arrangements to parliamentary scrutiny of the Brexit process. Without something better, a deal with the EU is going to be impossible. So Britain’s phoney war with Brexit is coming to a close and the real thing is about to start.