I have been almost completely consumed by the farce that Brexit negotiations have become. 
Rarely have I seen such incompetence and arrogance concerning such an important deal and it’s apparent that the way in which the UK is handling things is really not how a major economy should be working to extract itself from the EU. I’m also tired of hearing the EU is punishing us. 
The UK voted to leave and when you want to leave an organisation you cannot expect to continue enjoying its benefits. The expectation that we should be able to dictate the terms of our departure is laughable.
I watched Theresa May’s visit to Fermanagh and Belfast with dismay as she repeated assertions that there would be no hard border on the island of Ireland but yet again failed to offer any meaningful solution to the unique set of circumstances that people on the island face. 
I am becoming increasingly irritated by the actions of those in government, and local politicians in Northern Ireland, who are failing us by continuing with their flippant rhetoric that all will be fine, despite the increasing signs to the contrary.
Following Mrs May’s visit, which seemed to be a tick the box exercise rather than for the purpose of any significant interaction, we heard about the Somerset conservative MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured), who has joined my growing list of politicians who appear consumed with their own interests and ambition, with little regard for the citizens of their country, the people they are supposed to represent.
Rees-Mogg has been one of the fiercest advocates of a clean break from Europe through his role as chairman of the European Research Group, a powerful Euuropsceptic group of backbench Tories and has called Brexit “the greatest opportunity, economically,” for the UK.
And yet, despite such public assurances, it was announced this week that the city firm he co-founded, Somerset Capital Management, launched a second investment fund in Dublin, amid concerns about being cut off from European investors as a result of Brexit. The firm has been quick to insist the move had nothing to do with Rees-Mogg or indeed Brexit.
Rees-Mogg was then interviewed for Channel 4 news. When pressed by presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy on whether he would resign from Parliament if he’s wrong about Brexit, he insisted the that the full economic consequences wouldn’t be known for “a very long time”, adding: “the overwhelming opportunity for Brexit is over the next 50 years”. 
Yes, that’s correct, folks, 50 years!
The comedy writer, James Felton, put it aptly when he tweeted: Is there any other way to spin this other than “millionaire protects his millions from Brexit whilst telling the poor to wait 50 years to see if they *might* be better off”?
The saying: I’m alright, Jack, also springs to mind.
This is not the picture that was presented to the electorate two years ago. This is not taking back control. We can make jibes and jokes about how they didn’t put anything about a 50-year plan on a big red bus. But we are past the jokes now and into depressing, self sabotage territory.
Regardless of whether you voted Leave or Remain in June 2016 it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see any positive outcomes to the scenarios that have been presented to us since negotiations began.
There’s no doubt that membership of the EU has its drawbacks, something both the Leave and Remain campaigns outlined during the referendum campaign. Membership of any big organisation is never perfect. But the notion that we would leave and continue to enjoy all of the benefits that Europe had brought us over the years without any of the drawbacks was fanciful and stupid.
The situation we are now facing has dire consequences and it’s time for business leaders and politicians alike to come out and speak about the realities that we are facing, so that we can take steps to salvage something from this mess, for generations to come. 
Politicians are elected to protect the interests of this country. Why do I feel that’s the last thing on their minds?