The more one considers the sheer volume of issues arising due to coronavirus on the economy, the more ridiculous it becomes for the UK government to insist that this is also the same three months during which we should fix the terms of ~50% of our trade
Beyond the logical arguments for Brexit transition extension is the more fundamental ridiculousness of insisting nothing has changed in the last two months, or will change in the coming months, that should affect UK-EU talks, or indeed the UK's preparedness.
Japan really, really did not want to postpone the Olympics. But it became obvious that too many involved couldn't properly prepare. I doubt Munich wanted to cancel Oktoberfest right now but had to look forward and accept harsh realities. But Brexit? Nothing changes...
Government can't prepare properly for fundamentally changing 50% of our trade. Business can't prepare. The EU, though its only 8% of their trade. Nobody knows when that will change. Pretending otherwise turns wishful thinking into the government's delivery plan.
The Belarus football league and UK-EU trading relationships appear to now be the only things unaffected by the current crisis. That comparison should be enough to know changing no Brexit timelines due to coronavirus is simply absurd.
PS saying "Brexit is stupid, can it" or indeed "We voted for this exact form and timing of Brexit" does not help anyone. Love it or hate it Brexit happened. Discussing extending the transition period should be about our future not the arguments of the last 5 or 50 years.
