For nothing in return, by way of a guaranteed free trade deal, the Prime Minister is willing to hand over at least £40 billion, potentially £60 billion.
What will happen this week? When could a summit take place? What would the Cabinet say – and what might the Attorney General do?
It now the main issue blocking a negotiated agreement – thus risking a No Deal and potentially a harder Irish border. In short, it risks triggering the very thing it is supposed to avoid.
The German Chancellor was stronger then than she is now. And there’s no guarantee that any compromise she might push would work.
With the backstop blocking progress in the negotiations, the Government must map out its plan to mitigate the effects of no agreement being reached.
The key question now for Conservative MPs is whether they can support the UK being trapped in a customs union – and the dismemberment of the Union itself.
The Prime Minister will be under pressure to stand down if she doesn’t junk Chequers.
Contrary to myth, the wise king was demonstrating what was beyond his powers. May has done the same – demonstrating gradually that a Canada Deal or No Deal are the only practicable options.
I wouldn’t want to be the politician who has to explain why the purity of EU institutions came before cooperation that could have prevented a security incident.
For far, far too long Downing Street dithered and delayed crucial decisions. Ministers need to commit to selling the agreed policy before its too late.
In the long-term, we should be pursuing a Canada-style free trade agreement. In the short, we should park ourselves in the EEA.
In the second piece of our mini-series evaluating the EEA, the leader of the county’s No to EU movement says that the arrangement is entangling Norway in the Union.
She’s having trouble leaving a large house she brought with friends. And her family solicitor, Ollie, is advising her not to annoy them.
It’s likely that there will be some form of agreement, perhaps at the last minute. Likely, but far from certain.
The Brexit Secretary says “people need to know that actually we’re ready so that Britain can thrive whatever happens”.
For nothing in return, by way of a guaranteed free trade deal, the Prime Minister is willing to hand over at least £40 billion, potentially £60 billion.