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Govt paper on EU foreign policy & security cooperation: an articulate paean to all the strengths of a relationship it is now breaking up. 1/
2 Paper systematically explores all ways in which common foreign/security policies delivering concrete benefits. Not one weakness identified
3/ Not only does it not criticise the status quo, it makes almost no concession to idea things may not be able to continue exactly as before
4/ If you were reading it without any knowledge of Brexit, you could be forgiven for thinking it was an application to join EU, not leave
5/ It is in parts pathetic, in true sense of the word: a desolate spouse pleading to be taken back while also continuing divorce proceedings
6/ Here, for example, Govt asks for partnership 'beyond existing 3rd party arrangements'. Brexit was literally a vote to become a 3rd party 
7/ All the arguments we made during ref about advantages of CFSP/CSDP, which Vote Leave dismissed, Govt now openly & unabashedly embraces
8/ It wants to keep contributing to CSDP initiatives, agreeing on sanctions together etc- as though it is an equal partner w/ equal power
9/ UK assumes it will be able to spearhead cooperation between EU and NATO. Again, assumes we retain prior stature & influence: we won't
10/ Endearingly pathetic (or supremely arrogant) delusion transcends paper: we are UK, thus we still get to control show from behind scenes
11/ No acknowledgment facts have changed: that we won't 'cooperate' on sanctions, we'll follow EU or nothing. They're bigger than we are.
12/ Worse, no concrete proposals on process for achieving this cooperation. PSC is committee in charge; EU promises we'll be out of it.
13/ Sure, we can still participate in EU missions. They'll thank us. But it will be a take-or-leave-it. Can advise, but no longer decide.
14/ Appears to be open ignorance/denial of Brexit policy. Here, importance of 'open markets' for defence industry: er, like single market?
15/ On int'l dev't, Govt to use 'international partnerships'- why not build goodwill & specifically promise to keep funding Euro Dev Fund?
16/ This is Govt strategy all over. Platitudes on future cooperation, keeping all good things, not admitting it'll lose out, no specificity
17/ Govt can't promise any concrete cash or admit anything bad might happen, as that will only upset its hardliners & appease the realists
18/ So UK must simply propose apple pie: list all good things it contributes, and assume that means EU will be desperate to keep it involved
19/ Bad news, however, is that EU wants UK help but doesn't need it. UK can't cherry-pick benefits it wants. For EU, Brexit means Brexit.
20/ So while involvement will continue, it will be with UK resources but without UK decision-making. That is the outcome of the referendum.
21/ Paper also dispels myth of 'security surplus'. That only exists if UK can afford to withdraw it. It can't. Eur security is our security.
22/ So here we are. While everything changes, everything must remain same. We still don't understand how this works. The tragedy of Brexit.
