Any chaos will be in Kent ( and other UK lorry parks )

The UK Government  narrative is clear. If there's friction exporting to the EU and it's "all a bit slipshod and disorganised and there's therefore chaos because of failure of the EU to plan" then HMG is going to blame the direct consequences of leaving the Customs Union and Single Market on the EU. We've left the EU and at the end of the year we exit the Withdrawal Agreement's Transition Period that's been in place since the 1st of Feb. During the Transition Period we continued to be in the Customs Union and Single Market although no longer an EU member. That's what's kept our imports and exports flowing freely since then. It means we're yet to feel the practical effects of Brexit. Next year the EU will continue to exist and operate its Customs Union and Single Market. With or without an FTA, as we'll be outside the Customs Union and Single Market and a third country, all our exports to the EU will be subject to checks at the border. Wh
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Shooting the Messenger?

Here's another silly comment article in The Telegraph.

If the EU wants a deal the solution is simple: fire Michel Barnier

High-handed, patronising and provocative, the Frenchman has been a complete failure over three years

Well, he may have been a failure for the UK but he's been a success for the EU. He agreed the Withdrawal Agreement that Johnson and the EU27 leaders were happy to have ratified.

The EU27 are pleased with that so, from their view point Barnier is a success. In fact they re-appointed him after the Withdrawal Agreement to negotiate a trade deal.

The author writes:

The EU keeps saying it genuinely wants a deal. But if that is true, there is a simple solution. It should fire Michel Barnier, its chief negotiator. Over three years, the Frenchman has been a complete failure. High-handed, patronising and provocative, he never seems to have grasped that the job of a negotiator is to find a compromise, not simply antagonise the other side.

His key job is to get a deal that the EU27 leaders are happy with and he can only make compromises within that remit. Barnier is ultimately the messenger, the message comes from the EU27 and replacing Barnier with another won't change the message.

The author goes on:

Even though former prime minister Theresa May would take almost any terms, he pushed so far that he provoked a rebellion in the Conservative Party, secured a worse deal and then the election of a government committed to Brexit with a thumping majority. A good outcome for the EU? Not really.

From the EU27's perspective, rebellions in the Conservative Party are a UK matter. The EU27 are not going change position simply to make UK domestic politics easier, especially now that the UK is no longer an EU member. The EU27 accept the UK is leaving and the size of the UK Parliamentary majority is ultimately of no consequence.

Then:


Hardcore Remainers love to describe Barnier as a “master negotiator” with a “grasp of detail” that “runs rings” around the “amateurish” British. The immense size of the EU market meant we would have to accept pretty much whatever we were offered. But negotiating isn’t just about making demands, threatening retaliation and goading the other side. The actual objective is to find a deal.


From the EU27's perspective, they would much prefer a trade deal over no deal. That's clear. However, it's also clear that for the EU27 a bad deal really is worse than no deal. So, while the objective is to find a deal they're not going to sign up to a bad deal simply so they can claim they got Brexit done.

They'll leave that to Johnson.

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