This weekend, we are told, though hardly for the first time, should decide it. Barnier and “Frosty” have agreed that they go no further; their differences are too great to do other than agree to disagree.

Now two knights steps into the ring to battle to the end: Kemal-Johson v. Von der Leyen.  Roll up, roll up this should be the match of the century.

The truth is somewhat different: this is a match the like of which – with any luck – we will not see again. Von der Leyen has little to do with it, she simply has to keep her nerve: it’s all about Kemal-Johnson fighting himself.  As  he hurls himself around the ring, the question is: is K-J more frightened of the seconds in his own corner, or of the audience. Or, to put it another way, is he ready to destroy the UK, integrity, economy and all to try and save himself, or will he finally show some vestige of honour for the country which has – so foolishly – made him its leader and agree a deal.  Make no mistake about it, any concession, be it ever so small, that he makes will have the Brexit hound-dogs baying for his blood; and the alternative, no deal, is a disaster.

It goes against every fibre of his being to stand and fight: K-J is the craven coward of craven cowards.   But the prospect of a country smashed to smithereens and brought to its knees is not the legacy for which most politicians would crave – other, perhaps, than Dave-boy-Cameron whose idle insouciance set the whole disaster in motion.