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This isn't terribly surprising. It was evident during the Brexit debate before the referendum that no-one had a clue what might be involved. Cameron apparently forbad the Civil Service from starting to work on the possibility before the referendum ... then afterwards we had the Tory party in spasms for several weeks...

But we are where we are, and I rather agree with John O'Donnell - that we should get on with it and get the best we can. Two curiosities though: if Art.50 notice cannot be withdrawn, what happens if the best/only deal on offer from the EU in 2 years' time is widely regarded in the UK as unacceptable, and we haven't arranged decent trade deals (because of the shortness of time) with anyone else? Secondly, if there is a dispute over the terms of exit - for example the contribution to future EU commitments the UK voted on - what is the agreed treaty process for that dispute to be resolved? The ECJ?