How did the EU and the UK negotiate the Brexit deal?

It is clear now that there was, and remains, a high level of animosity among a large segment of the UK population towards the EU and its institutions. This is borne out by the polls showing that many would still vote the same, despite the post Brexit problems. It was a narrow vote at the time though, and quite likely the result was swayed by false information promulgated by members of the Conservative party and UKIP. Now more is known about the effects of leaving, it is unlikely that the vote would be in favour now. It would still be a narrow result, however, and the EU would do well to reflect on the resentment many of its citizens still feel towards some of the EU institutions, and closer integration.

As a Brit I think Brexit was the worst possible idea. It was madness to stop trading with the UK's closest neighbours, and it gas caused problems for Brits living in Europe.

There was, and is, a lot of pressure from some on the right of British politics to allow the UK to go its own way completely. That has lead to a position where it is often not apparent that the government places any significant value on a close and cooperative partnership with the EU. They would prefer the UK to be doing business with intercontinental partners rather than our friends and neighbours on our doorstep.

It was clear from the beginning that few UK politicians had any appreciation of the depth and complexity of the links arising from membership of the EU. There was a desire to get Brexit done quickly, regardless of the damage caused. I liken Brexit to a separation of conjoined twins by surgeons. You can either do it the right way, in a long detailed operation which preserves all the nerves, blood vessels and organs of each twin, or you can rip them apart quickly and then try to patch up the damage as best you can, hoping one or both of the twins doesn't die from trauma. The public should have been told before the vote that to do Brexit properly would take 10 years at least.

Badly. I speak as a Brit living in mainland Europe. There was no advantage. I will seek Belgian nationality because I pwrspnally feel so disadvantaged by Brexit. My children have already taken their father's Irish nationality.

It is very difficult to see how there could ever be a proper resolution of the Northern Ireland problem without their being a customs union with the EU. An open border between the Republic and the North is a political and social necessity, and an open border essentially means free movement of goods and people. I see a customs union with the EU being inevitable.