How Dublin ran rings round May on the Northern Ireland border

Tony Connelly describes in painful detail the success of Irish negotiators in aligning themselves with the EU27, while leaving the Brits to flounder.

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.

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.

“The UK joined as one nation and must leave on that basis.” The DUP’s letter to May – full text

“Unlike the previous political declarations, the scope for delay, fudge or obscurantist language has passed. This is now a time for clarity and plain speaking.”

Henry Newman: How to manage No Deal? To start with, pledge to reduce tariffs.

With the backstop blocking progress in the negotiations, the Government must map out its plan to mitigate the effects of no agreement being reached.

David Shiels: Brexit, Northern Ireland, and borders. Why the DUP may yet break ranks with May – and force a general election

The issue of the backstop is becoming more heated and harder to navigate as time goes by.

Theresa Villiers: The ERG’s solution to the Irish border opens the door to a wide-ranging free trade agreement

Now we will find out if the EU really is seeking practical progress, or if it is cynically exploiting the issue as a way to seek leverage.

Garvan Walshe: Gove is setting himself up as Brexit’s Michael Collins

Not in the sense that he will be shot by his own side, but in his calculation that the best approach is to gain “the freedom to win freedom”.

Henry Hill: The courts have called time on Bradley’s passive policy towards Ulster

Also: Welsh Tory leadership hopefuls would put pacts with other parties to the membership; unionists turn on Robinson over united Ireland comments; and more.

John O’Sullivan: A new documentary casts cold light on the true horror of IRA violence

We have missed too many opportunities to drive home the terrible consequences of terrorism and shred its romantic aura for younger generations.

The Canada Plus Plus Plus answer to the Northern Ireland question

The myth has it that there never was such a plan – in fact, DexEU had a proposal to fulfil its promise of no ‘hard border’ while still overseeing a proper customs regime.

Lord Ashcroft: My latest polling explores the tensions and controversies around the union and Northern Ireland’s border

Crucially, opinion is not just divided between Leave and Remain, but between the Province and the mainland.

Henry Hill: SNP’s PMQs stunt prevented the very debate they claimed to want

Also: Robinson calls for fixed-term border polls in Ulster; Wood sets departure date as leader of Plaid; and the architect of ‘The Vow’ comes out for Scottish independence.

Has Davis found the least-bad way out of the Government’s self-imposed border bind?

Perhaps – if the Brexit Secretary can demonstrate that his proposals are compatible with May’s red lines, and saleable to the DUP.

Henry Hill: SNP blueprint for independence alienates left-wing supporters

Also: female Tories press the Prime Minister for action on Ulster abortion law; and Davies urges Party to unite over Brexit.