The House of Commons library has this afternoon published its “Brexit Glossary“, setting out the official definitions of a soft, hard, smooth, black, white and red, white and blue Brexits:

Hard Brexit
A situation in which the UK leaves the EU swiftly and probably with a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU. A very hard Brexit would involve resorting to WTO rules.

Soft Brexit
A situation in which the UK leaves the EU but negotiates continued membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) and largely staying in the single market while giving up influence over single market rules.

Smooth Brexit
An orderly, negotiated, prepared Brexit.

Red, white and blue Brexit
The Prime Minister used this to describe the kind of Brexit she hopes to achieve, continuing: “the right Brexit for the UK, the right deal for the UK”. But its precise meaning has been debated. The Guardian, 6 December 2016, said that this kind of Brexit was “midway between a ‘black Brexit’, a cliff-edge scenario for businesses and financial services in which the government left the article 50 talks without a future deal with the EU, and a ‘white Brexit’, which would see the UK attempt to remain in the single market”.

The library adds: “It is not a comprehensive list but will be expanded and updated periodically”. In truth these varying types of Brexit are Remainer talk. There is only one Brexit: a clean departure from the single market and customs union to untie ourselves from EU shackles and freely embrace the rest of the world…