The President of the Hauts-de-France Region, Xavier Bertrand, has given a pointed interview to Sky News confirming that Calais, Bolougne and Dunkirk are ready for Brexit whatever happens, but questioning whether the UK is prepared too. Remainers are doing their best to ensure that the UK isn’t…

It follows his article in yesterday’s Telegraph confirming that his administration has done the work to ensure that the French ports and Eurotunnel will have “100 per cent fluidity on day one in the event of a no-deal Brexit”, while Eurotunnel themselves confirmed last week that they are ready “with or without a deal”. Completely contradicting Remainers who are still determined to talk up the possibility of disruption…

Two interesting quotes on Newsnight suggesting that at least some Europeans are pushing Barnier and the Commission to take a more reasonable negotiating stance. Geert Bourgeois, the head of the Flemish government, stressed the need for trade talks: “I’ve met twice Barnier. I brought him to Zeebrugge. 45% of the trade of the export from Zeebrugge is to the United Kingdom, so that’s why I do my best to influence all the people, the ambassadors of the surrounding countries, to work together”. Xavier Bertrand, the influential French politician who runs the Hauts-de-France region, says Brussels’ tone should change:

“I know one thing for sure – nobody has the right to punish the UK and the British people. It was a sovereign choice… punishing and looking to punish is a terrible mistake. It would be a bad message to send. It was the will of the people who voted, regardless of the consequences. It would give rise to the feeling that there’s something with more power than the will of the people, or wanting to go against the will of the people. That would be a terrible error.”

The suggestion in today’s papers is that May’s speech will aim to go over the head of Barnier and appeal to the EU27 to break the deadlock. Clearly it is in the interests of EU politicians like the two above to do that. Whether the EU27 can behave reasonably and rationally is another question…