When does an unmanaged No Deal become a managed No Deal?

This morning, despite claims it would never happen, we seem to have a unicorn made flesh – just in time for Christmas.

Rob Wilson: It is still possible for May to revive her dead parrot of a deal – but it won’t be easy

There are four steps she must take, successfully and in short order, to be in with any chance of seeing it fly.

Brexit, the backstop, Anglo-Irish relations – and learning from Burke

We need a new strategic partnership with Ireland. At the moment, that end seems endlessly remote.

Alan O’Kelly and Hugh Byrne: It’s time for a Conservative Friends of Ireland group

The Party has not yet cultivated a formal relationship with the Irish community in Britain and this is an opportunity to reach out to what can be a powerful network.

Sheila Lawlor: Even with an exit clause from the backstop, this deal would be unacceptable

Its freedom to prosper, to make and judge its own laws, for its people ‘to take back control’ over how or by whom they are governed – all these will be lost for ever.

Esther McVey: Delivering Brexit from here. We must prepare properly for no deal.

When I tried to focus these concerns by calling for a vote to see if this deal did indeed have the agreement of Cabinet, opposition crumbled – and my colleagues fell silent.

It almost works

Were it not for the backstop, May’s deal would get over the line – with support from an overwhelming majority of Conservatives, including us.

Shailesh Vara: A Better Deal would solve the backstop problem

Our plan is supported by remainers like me, by leavers such as David Davis and Dominic Raab and, crucially, by the DUP.

Daniel Hannan: We still have time to switch course from disaster. Just. It’s up to Conservative MPs to act now.

The logic is clear enough. The EU’s choice would be between no backstop and nothing else either; or no backstop and agreement on everything else.

Why Conservative MPs should prepare to call for a confidence vote in the Prime Minister’s leadership this week

A new leader will be a surer means of delivering Brexit if she can’t extract last-minute backstop concessions.

Henry Hill: Unionist parties unite against backstop as Varadkar rules out fresh talks

Also: Welsh Labour choose their new leader (and First Minister) this afternoon; Scottish Tories attack SNP over tax divergence plans.

Stephen Booth: The backstop. It’s problematic for the EU as well as the UK – whatever you’re told to the contrary.

There is concern in some capitals that the UK can use it to secure privileged access to the Single Market in goods with, over time, a competitive advantage.

Daniel Hannan: I want to support May’s plan. But I can’t. It proposes a way of leaving the EU that’s exactly the wrong way round.

Instead of leaving the Customs Union but retaining chunks of the Single Market – we shall end up staying in the Customs Union but leaving most of the Single Market.

Henry Newman: May’s deal could be saved with prompt improvements – such as a Stormont lock

Giving Northern Ireland a say over the introduction of new EU laws would at least introduce a measure of democracy into the system.

Nick Hargrave: If we join the EEA, others might follow – thus creating a Europe-wide, non-federalist alternative to the EU

As a bloc with heightened economic weight, with the UK as a key influence, it would have greater flexibility to negotiate over issues such as immigration and budgetary contributions.