Agreed. Leaving aside whether different policies would have worked better or not, the one he chose, austerity, worked in a raw sense. The thing to consider though is how unpopular it was, and it's here Remainers have missed the boat, they should have said again and again how seriously Brexit would reduce tax revenues from employers and employees and create the need for Austerity Two, austerity with knobs on. Unfortunately too many Remain supporters drifted off into childish bollocks about people being old and northerners and wanting the empire back, and the economic arguments have been hugely undersold.
As for May, does anyone think she actually wants an extension? I don't, I think she's just going through the motions so she can say she's tried, and another alternative to her deal is chalked off. She's still batting for her deal for me, right to the end.