The story behind the UK's unpopular Brexit deal
Charles Grant, of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, likens the process of negotiating an exit deal to an “accession in reverse” — a reference to the membership talks applicant countries have to go through, in which they mechanically apply the bloc’s rule book.
“It is called a negotiation but in fact it is an imposition,” Mr Grant said. “One side holds all the cards, but the politicians with fewer cards are loath to admit that to voters.”