Post Salzburg big barrier to deal is sorting Irish backstop before/at Oct EU summit in order to confirm Nov. Our @RaynerSkyNews traveling with PM asked her repeatedly about whether see UK plan before Oct, and if involves regulatory border in Irish Sea
NB this was yesterday - but PM did not take opportunity to confirm there would be a detailed Irish backstop plan before October, nor elaborate on her Downing st statement hint of a Stormont-approved Irish Sea regulatory check system... quotes...
PM did say this: “What we’re looking at is addressing the [backstop] issue - if in the circumstances our future trading relationship has been agreed but there is a delay in putting it into practice that we ensure that for that period of that delay there will be no hard border”
PM continuing re backstop: that she was “committed to agreeing a backstop but also I believe that for the future relationship frictionless trade lies at its heart.. that’s how we can ensure sustainably in to the future not hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland...”
... so in PMs eyes future relationship completely deals with the Irish border question because it will mean maintaining frictionless trade... and yet those specific parts of it - the common rule book and customs arrangement are also specifically what the EU27 said “will not work”
Alternatively one might interpret the absolute commitment to maintaining frictionless trade sufficient to not require a border now and forever as reopening effective single market and/or customs union membership as a not desired but possible outcome. But she has ruled those out.
