The Brexiters are getting their bonfire of EU law – and democracy will lie in the ashes

‘To keep the revolutionary fire burning, the hardliners must mine Sunak’s discomfort.’ Rishi Sunak toasts marshmallows while visiting Sea Scounts in Inverness. Photograph: Reuters

The sign on the door says “Brexit delivery department”. Inside, an official fetches boxes overflowing with documents labelled EU red tape and EU legislation. A pause; a grunt of consternation; a cracking of knuckles. Then, to the exultant strains of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy, the papers are fed into a shredder.

The video wasn’t subtle, but subtlety isn’t the field where Tory leadership races are run. Rishi Sunak was losing and he felt his campaign lacked the happy clap of Brexit evangelism. So he pledged to review or repeal every bit of retained European law lurking in British statutes within 100 days of taking office.