Thread by @DavidHenigUK

Simply, serious contemplation of no-deal Brexit is UK political failure on a grand scale.

Our businesses are more concerned with stockpiling and working out how they can service existing customers than growth. That will cost us for years to come.

Government cannot tell business what our trading regime will be *with any country in the world* as of April 1. Imagine trying to compete with business from other countries on that basis.

We have a delicate security situation in one part of the UK and we don't know how that may be affected in April - and that is already having an impact on individuals

UK citizens across the EU do not know the basis for their lives and jobs from this April, similarly EU citizens in the UK

Members of Parliament of our governing party openly insult the European Union and frankly by implication all the member countries of it, and this is considered normal

Pointing out the potential adverse affects of such a dramatic change is labelled 'project fear' and therefore those like me who point such things out are attacked for being biased

My local supermarket would probably not do very well if they put 10% on the prices of all goods for London residents but gave a discount to residents of Newcastle. I'd go to the next nearest supermarket, but Newcastle residents wouldn't come to London to shop.

Members of the WTO are not waiting for the UK to come and lead them forward in a new age of global liberalisation. First of all they'd like us to confirm that we're prepared to work with others. And can we stop President Trump wrecking the WTO?

Other countries are not waiting to give us special terms in Free Trade Agreements. They will want things from us that will be painful, like changing our food regulations, giving better access for visas, or increasing their lamb exports

We will probably continue to follow the great mass of EU regulations as all developed countries tend to regulate the same things like product safety, and to export to them companies will have to produce to them. But without a say.

Our reputation for political stability has already taken a hit, one foreign investor asked me archly "Why should I invest in your country?"

And the long-term plan for the UK given no-deal with the EU is what precisely? Which sectors is the UK going to specialise in, will keep creating the jobs, paying the taxes?

Our main campaign relating to the EU, for another referendum, is actually quite happy for no-deal stories to spread, as they think it helps their case. Even if it means more unproductive business spending, more fear spreading.

And all of this can be ended by the PM. She can rule out no-deal as an option today, that she will not let it happen. She should do exactly that, pointing out in passing that no-deal was not the vision sold by leave in the referendum.

Those MPs who seem to be claiming that unless there's no deal there will be insurrection could also just calm down, and in many cases return to what they were saying two years. Playing with fire is always a bad idea.

MPs will in the next 10 days get the opportunity to again show their feelings about no-deal. The PM could show that what she said about listening was right and react accordingly.

Solving Brexit in one grand solution has not worked. Time to start breaking down the problem. Remove no-deal as an option and then see how that changes matters, and whether other things start to fall into place.

And we can all then stop worrying so much. /end