Daniel Hannan: It should be obvious, not controversial, to seek a deep friendship with our EU neighbours

In the third piece in our mini-series evaluating the EEA, our columnist wonders how both sides managed to become so hostile to moderate concepts.

Brexiteer frog at boiling point

What may count most today is not whether the water simmers over, but whether his temper and patience do instead – or first.

WATCH: As the Chequers summit looms, Hannan says we need a Swiss-style solution

“Showing a combination of angry rhetoric and then irresolution in the talks has been the worst possible combination.”

Henry Newman: Yes, we have proposed a voluntary managed alignment in goods. But direct ECJ jurisdiction must end.

Either a new dispute resolution mechanism will be required, or the UK could dock into part of the EFTA court to resolve disputes over goods.

John Stevenson, Jeremy Lefroy and Paul Masterton: There’s a better way for the Government on Europe – joining EFTA

Within EFTA, there are already two models of relationship with the EU – the EEA and the Swiss model. There is no reason why there could not be a third.

Peter Lilley: Sovereignty or prosperity? It’s a false choice. They go hand in hand.

Not being able to blame Brussels for our problems nor look to the EU for solutions will be immensely reinvigorating.

J.P.Floru: In defence of tax havens. May’s threat to the British Overseas Territories is un-Conservative.

Do we really want them either to declare independence, or else become benefit claimants, funded by British taxpayers?

The risks to May if she backs off leaving the Customs Union

“I’m not saying that there would be an organised push, but the letters would just go in to Graham Brady,” one senior pro-Leave backbencher told this site yesterday.

Henry Newman: Even if the Government concedes on an EU customs union, membership of it looks unsustainable. Here’s why.

Can we really imagine ministers rejecting Justin Trudeau’s trade deal offer, or one from the American administration, or from Australia and New Zealand?

Simon Clarke: A greener City of London will outpace Paris and Frankfurt after Brexit

The Government should back the fastest growing sector of the economy, demand transparency and send clear policy signals.

Alex Morton: Scrapping coins and squeezing cash would be an assault on our own voters

The Treasury should be saved from itself by bringing the Party Chairman in to scrutinise the Autumn Budget before it is finalised.

Henry Newman: May is right – the EU cherry-picks whenever it is politically convenient. Brexit should be such a time.

From its range of tailor-made trade deals to its habit of allowing Member States to break the rules, Brussels is more flexible than Barnier’s rhetoric might suggest.

Our survey. Party members overwhelmingly oppose the Norway option. The majority against a Swiss model is less emphatic.

Whatever you think of the latter idea, it can’t fairly be said that, in the minds of a significant tranche of Party members, the door to it is firmly closed.

Stephen Hammond: Why I will be tabling amendments to the Trade Bill to explore joining EFTA

To shut off consideration of realistic and achievable ways of supporting the Government’s Brexit objectives would be irresponsible.

Stephen Booth: A possible Cabinet Brexit compromise is brewing. It would mean mirroring parts of the Customs Union.

When ministers meet at Chequers this week, they must find a solution to the seemingly intractable question of whether to align or diverge from the EU.