"Mr Amato {the diplomat who drafted Article 50} went on to describe Brexit as a "disaster", called David Cameron "mad" for calling a referendum over it and urged other countries not to follow suit.

Of impending talks, he said: "Don't give Britain the possibility of thinking that Brexit is a better way of doing what they have always done, grabbing what suits them [in the EU] and opting out of what they don't like. Brexit is a total opting out. They know this very well.

"The more they realise that they are losing, then the more chance there is that in 2020 [when there will be a general election] someone will do something about it."

He conceded that this was an "absurd hope" however, and as such wants "the negotiations [to be] dragged on so they won't be wrapped up by 2020. (Prime Minister) May wants to wrap things up by 2019, but it will be easy to prolong matters."

Ms May has signalled that the clause will not be invoked until 2017. She has also said it will not be used until Scotland's position is clarified.

Brexit: Article 50 was never actually meant to be used, says its author | UK Politics | News | The Independent

I love the sound of The Long Grass rustling in the morning.

I can't help but wonder if, with attacks in Germany and France, someone somewhere suggests that in the interests of security now would not be a good time to desert our European friends.

Eventually could come to that, or at least the visa waiver program for UK/EU citizens one could imagine being cancelled.

From what Trump has been saying about immigration, it seems quite likely that a bunch of countries will no longer be able to use the VWP if he's elected. Frankly, I'm amazed it hasn't happened already.

If Trump gets elected he will have to deal with Congress , which might not be too easy if Democrats get control of the Senate, plus simply the reality of the situation once in office- he is a businessman and used to delegating and hiring employees and using professional advisors- i.e. whether you are for or against Trump, implementing his plans certainly wont be easy. Clinton on other hand would have same potential issue with Congress, but her policies easier to complement- adding more regulation, increasing taxes, increasing cost of doing business all have bene going on for years.

Except, as Obama has demonstrated, the President can simply announce changes to immigration policy without any input from Congress.

With Obama's precedent to go by, Trump could do... well, pretty much anything that doesn't cause Congress to impeach him.

Like he simply announces health care for all or simply announces gun control but gets nowhere?

As far as I know, the Secretary of Home Security's initiative has been blocked by a 4-4 vote in the depleted Supreme Court.