I'm yet to be convinced that establishing trade agreements with countries outside the EU will compensate for the consequences that a hard Brexit or 'no deal' would result in. It's my firm belief, based on the evidence that I have seen and the lack of evidence to the contrary, that a transition arrangement must be secured, and eventually a deal must be secured that does not damage the country's economic prospects for the long term.

I've heard a lot said recently about preparations for a 'no deal' scenario, as though it's possible to prepare for a 'no deal' scenario in the same way that you could prepare for a soft Brexit. This is not the case; you can't prepare for a 'no deal' scenario to the extent that its impacts are fully mitigated. Preparing for a 'no deal' scenario, I think, is a bit like preparing to swim through lava; it will be a dangerous experience for the economy and we will not be able to compensate for it through establishing trade agreements with other countries outside the EU.