Don't rush Brexit fences too early

THE favourite saying of François Mitterrand, French President in 1981-95, was Laissez le temp au temps - "Give time a chance". That might be the watchword for Theresa May, Britain's Prime Minister, when she returns from holidaying in the Swiss Alps and tries to work out the next moves on the three-dimensional Brexit chessboard.

She might copy Harold Macmillan, a former Prime Minister, who put up a notice in Downing Street with a quote from The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan: "Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot".

The decision of the June 23 plebiscite is clear, but the terms on which Brexit will happen are not. Much disentangling is required.

So far the smartest suggestion has come from Sadiq Khan, London's Mayor. He has urged Mrs May to wait until the UK knows with whom it will be negotiating - which will n…