It is the EU's version of GPS. But Britain could be frozen out of the Galileo satellite navigation project - or at least part of it - because Brexit is sparking security concerns.
There is now officially less than a year until Brexit: Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29 2019, at 11pm London time. To its supporters, the process is a liberation — or perhaps, in the words of one radio presenter, “a second Christmas”. To its critics, it is a farce — or akin to sleepwalking off a cliff. But what if the best metaphor for Brexit is actually a family road trip . . .
Child 1 (Mini-Leaver): Muuuum, are we there yet?
Theresa May: I’m very clear that I want to minimise uncertainty, and that’s what I’m going to do.
Mini-Leaver: So we’re nearly there?
May: No.
Mini-Leaver: But I want to be there nowwww.
Child 2 (Mini-Remainer): Why do I have such a stupid brother? I honestly think we’re not related. I want to go home.
May: Darlings, we are going to find somewhere nice for lunch, but it’s a long way and I need you to be quiet.
Mini-Remainer: If we don’t go home, I’ll throw my toys out the window.
Mini-Leaver: If we don’t get there now, I’ll be sick.
May: Your father has something to say to you both.
Jeremy Corbyn: Kids, your mother is a really bad driver.
May: Jeremy!
Corbyn: I’m sorry, but it’s true, Theresa. This whole trip is a disgrace.
May: But we agreed it together months ago!
Corbyn: We need a radical change of direction.
May: Like what?
Corbyn: We could change lanes.
Mini-Remainer: But we’d still be going in the same direction.
Corbyn: Or we could pick up that hitchhiker.
Mini-Remainer: Pick him up!
Mini-Leaver: Run him over!
May: He looks like a Liberal Democrat so we’ll just ignore him. Children, why don’t you play a game of “I spy”?
Mini-Remainer: I spy with my little eye something beginning with H.
Corbyn: A hard border?
Mini-Leaver: No way is that a hard border!
Mini-Remainer: Er, hello? They are literally checking each vehicle.
Mini-Leaver: Mum, tell her what a hard border is.
May: A hard border is a border that is hard. This is just a place we have agreed to queue and show our IDs.
Mini-Remainer: It’ll be dinnertime before we get anywhere.
Mini-Leaver: I’m hungry. I want to eat lunch now.
Corbyn: I warned you we were heading for a no-meal scenario. I knew I should have made my crab-apple and bean sandwiches.
May: No meal is better than a bad meal.
Mini-Leaver: I want to go fishing.
May: That’s a lovely idea, maybe later.
Mini-Leaver: But you promised I could have a treat!
Mini-Remainer: If we turn back now, we could have a treat at home.
May: We are not turning back.
Mini-Remainer: How about now?
May: Nothing has changed.
Mini-Remainer: This weird Russian sat-nav is taking us the wrong way.
Corbyn: Let’s not blame the sat-nav just because it’s Russian. How do we know the problem isn’t an American satellite?
May: Forget the sat-nav, I’ve turned it off. We have our own bespoke path.
Corbyn: Look out Theresa, we’re veering off the road!
May: That is pure speculation. It’s a matter for negotiation.
Corbyn: We’re smashing through the crash barriers!
Mini-Leaver: Hooray, we’ll be stopping soon!
Mini-Remainer: Hooray, we might have to turn back!
May: It’s so nice to hear the kids getting on together.
Corbyn: I think I had better take over.
May: You don’t have a licence.
Corbyn: You’ve broken the gearstick!
May: I prefer to call it a standstill transmission.
Corbyn: Quick, Theresa, run — before the whole car explodes!
May: It’s not in the car’s interest to explode, Jeremy. Really — anyone would think you don’t want to make a success of this family holiday.