An (almost certainly unnecessary) addition to the long list of slightly strained Brexit analogies, this time featuring Fred Flintstone's car. 1/6

Over many years, the EU member states built the single market, in order to remove not only tariffs and customs within Europe, but also a range of other technical barriers to trade (so-called non-tariff barriers). 2/ 6

One can imagine the trade relationship between the states as a car, with an engine, which needs careful maintenance. 3/6

See eg

Hard Brexit has involved ripping the engine out of the car.

The Brexiter promise was that the (outdated) engine would be replaced by something better. 4/6

It seems that the promise... wasn't all that. 5/6

The 'teething problems' discussion is rather akin to a discussion about which shoes Fred and Barney should wear.

Might it not be better to focus again on the engine? 6/6