Boris Johnson’s government should prolong the Brexit transition

CAUGHT UP INEU covid-19, Britons have largely forgotten the crisis that preoccupied them for three-and-a-half years. But Brexit has not gone away. A crunch is approaching, and unless the prime minister, Boris Johnson, acts swiftly, its damaging economic consequences will compound those of the pandemic.Britain formally left the on January 31st, and is now in a transition period until the end of the year, during which time a deal on future relations is meant to be thrashed out. If it is not, and Britain ends that transition without a trade deal, the impact on the economy is likely to be painful.