Those who say that it’s impossible to get a better deal from the EU than Theresa May’s deal - that the EU has rules as immutable as those of the Medes and the Persians - have obviously never seen the horse trading and back room compromises that characterise every EU summit 1/4
What is different about this negotiation is one simple fact: the EU believed that despite her ‘No Deal is Better than a Bad Deal’ rhetoric, Theresa May was desperate for a deal at any price 2/4
Once those with whom you are negotiating believe that, then it simply becomes a matter of how long they want to make their Christmas list 3/4
Once the EU realises that they have overplayed their hand & Parliament won’t wear this shameful surrender, they will be faced with a choice: do a proper & equitable deal or split without a deal - a prospect that they don’t relish, not least as they lose all leverage over us 4/4
