Tom Baldwin The real obstacle to the EU offering much in the way of concessions is not innate hostility towards Britain so much as the absence of any sign we can find lasting consensus and stability on this issue – or anything else. Not only is Downing Street's front door revolving between elections, Brussels knows there is a genuine risk that Nigel Farage, one of the architects of Brexit, will walk through it after the next one and then rip up any painstakingly negotiated deal.