Shorter:
- Paris, Berlin are behind Barnier.
- Conjoined twin backstop idea dead.
- EU digging in over backstop. Will only offer fluffy language in future declaration to help May say won't be needed.
Iceberg off port bow..
If FCA/Chequers is dead - ie the cakeist idea of 'dual tariff - then how does EU of "FTA + Customs Co-operation" fix the Irish problem.
Answer: it doesn't. It's just a round about way of saying UK must swallow backstop. /2
If that's not a runner, how does May sell the backstop?
Rahman is properly connected in Brussels, Paris and Berlin.
Rather blows a hole in the No 10 spinning on 'softening' - which was always clumsy/over-egged in my view. 4/Ends