It's what I'd expect from a pro-EU Blairite. He's arguing that perfect is the enemy of the good. Thanks to Johnson and Frost, we have a decent platform to go forward as an independent country. No one underestimated the strength of the EU because of its size, any more than David underestimated the size of Goliath. It was bleeding obvious, as was the extreme difficulties over Northern Ireland. But you have to confront these, knowing that important parts of the EU (ie Germany) had a lot to lose by not reaching a trade deal.
The idea that the UK put pressure on itself by setting deadlines for leaving is straight out of Lord Adonis's handbook. It's an argument made by these pro EU supporters that didn't want the UK to leave at all, and hoped that by continual extensions, the Brexit momentum would be lost.
It's up to the UK now to make the most of the trade deal. Boris Johnson goes to India at the end of the month and hopefully a trade deal will result. Meanwhile the EU has big problems to resolve, both economic and political/ philosophical (resolving the liberal and right wing clashes). I believe the UK and the EU will settle into a comfortable relationship that helps both, and that UK businesses can develop important commercial interests beyond the borders of Europe.
