Lots of Brexit negotiating talk this morning given the EU Council and upcoming Chequers Cabinet. We're getting towards the end game, and I've written about what that means. Quick thread 1/ prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/brexi…
First the choices. I've tweeted this before, it's quite simply a border, Irish sea or land, or a close EU-UK relationship. This applies throughout different periods to which we may give different names e.g. backstop, implementation period, etc 
Next the UK Gov has to have a realistic negotiating position of some sort. We'd like to hope that will come next week, one rather suspects it won't, as a real decision means some members of Cabinet probably have to resign as it will go against their core belief 3/
How does the EU respond to the UK? At this stage there is no suggestion of compromise whatsoever, with the exception of the rather questionable offer to effectively split the UK along the Irish Sea 4/
If there is to be a compromise there needs to be some careful choreography in the talks. There isn't much goodwill as far as we can tell from outside - and its at this stage such things really matter 5/
Further problem - there is actually a lot of detail also to be agreed, unless you can make the implementation period extendable. What exactly will happen with existing EU trade deals, UK attendance at EU meetings, and so on 6/
Meanwhile the UK Government needs to prepare properly for the post-EU world, with a vastly diminished influence in Brussels, and more trade policy autonomy. Again the need for realistic plans is evident, but nothing has yet been shared 7/
Oddly I remain optimistic. Both sides want a deal, and it's not difficult to picture the framework of such a deal. But time runs short and the leadership required will have to be of a far higher order than we've seen to date. From both sides. Though especially the UK. 8/ end
