The National:

THE people of Scotland, almost certain to be dragged out of the EU against their will, would be forgiven for thinking they have been the butt of a bad joke throughout the Brexit process.

Perhaps, then, we can find some comfort in the knowledge that the incompetent chancers in Westminster who initiated the seemingly never-ending shambles are themselves being ridiculed on the continent.

Speaking alongside EU Council president Donald Tusk in Brussels, in which he once again felt it necessary to reiterate to the Tory government that the Withdrawal Agreement remains "the best deal possible”, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was caught out by a decades-old foe of politicians.

The microphone helped expose shocking acts of treachery by Richard Nixon’s administration, leading to the president’s downfall.

Varadkar, however, should not expect the same fate after responding to Tusk, who had said there was a "special place in hell" for Brexiteers who had initiated this mess "without even a sketch of a plan to carry it [out] safely". 

READ MORE: EU president says there's a 'special place in hell' for these Brexiteers

Drawing a chuckle from the EU chief, Varadkar gave what he thought was a private reply: “They'll give you terrible trouble."

The mysterious "they"? Why, it’s the crack team of Tory Brexit negotiators – headed by Theresa May – who will meet Tusk on Thursday. They are once again seeking changes to the Irish border backstop arrangement – you know, the one the EU has repeatedly said it will not change...

One Twitter user heard a "British press" in there, too.

Having effectively torpedoed her own deal to orchestrate these fresh talks, May will enter the negotiations buoyed by a sense of delusion which seems to be one of the few defining characteristics of a Tory party devoid of principle.

It is little wonder Tusk and Varadkar joined in with what most of Europe has presumably been doing for two and a half years - laughing at the UK’s expense.

Beforehand, Tusk had said he hoped May would come to Brussels with a “realistic” plan.

Tusk also said the EU was preparing for the “possible fiasco” of a no-deal Brexit, which multiple reports have shown will have a disproportionately negative impact on Scotland.

READ MORE: Gove warned of no-deal Brexit disaster for Scottish seafood industry

Expert analysis has also predicted food and medicine shortages, while leaked UK Government emails warned our streets could soon be filled with millions of tonnes of rotting waste.

Perhaps, then, we should embrace the dark humour of Varadkar and Tusk.

After all, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.