Thread by @SamCoatesTimes

This morning on Times p1 we set out latest cabinet thinking about Brexit

Key swing voters in cabinet - Raab, Gove, Hunt, Javid said to be the list - are worrying about “no deal” if Chequers rejected

Some important context

thetimes.co.uk/article/bc2863…

1. All 4 say they are loyalists. All 4 back Chequers for now. This means all 4 will help her thru conference

2. This concern only arises if the Oct 18
EU council effectively halts negotiations. No10 hope that it won’t

3. There’s less faith amongst the 4 after Salzburg

4. Some senior Whitehall figures see Salzburg as primarily a mistake in the messaging and communication, not strategy, and nothing fundamental changed

5. If Britain moves on embracing customs union for longer and EU softens hostility to SM for goods, some see deal possible

6. At the “no deal” cabinet meeting 2 weeks ago, the cabinet agreed that in the event the “meaningful vote” is lost there would be no further negotiations to salvage talks and all attention would switch to “no deal”

.... but ....

7. The idea that some in Whitehall think that’s what’ll happen in practice nonsense. “The idea Olly won’t be on a train to Brussels the day after a lost vote is ridiculous.”

(I’m loving the high regard some officials have for some Cabinet ministers and vice versa at the moment)

8. But big big no deal planning decisions need to be taken in October and timing is tight