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Graham Brady says here: “How to bypass the backstop and come up with a solution? Crucially we don’t need to hammer out those details before tomorrow.” With 29 March fast approaching, when should these details, elusive during 18 months of EU-UK #Brexit negotiations, be hammered? 1 
EU and UK negotiatiors spent months thinking round bilaterally acceptable solutions to the backstop. They arrived at current document. Reminder: the UK-wide customs arrangement with the EU featured in the backstop was requested by HMG not Brussels 2
Withdrawal Agreement already says EU open to alternatives to backstop eg using technology if and when viable BUT EU no deal planning documents clearly say in case if no deal #Brexit some physical checks will have to take place. Technology alone doesnt cut the mustard for the EU 3
It’s true EU leaders want to avoid a no deal #Brexit and true they’ll be more flexible than have been so far if push comes to last minute shove BUT assumption they’ll cave in on central arguaments bc clock ticking is mistaken 4
The EU favours fudges in difficult situations.. v tricky with the backstop which is about a peace process, about backing an EU member state rather than favouring an exit deal (not even final trade deal) with departing UK; it’s also about protecting EU single market after Brexit 5
EU also thinking more widely: Brussels won’t want to be seen to ‘cave in’ to UK. There’s a fear that could encourage Brussels-sceptic governments eg in member states Poland, Italy, Hungary. Also risks sending message of weakness to international trade partners 6
Behind closed doors there is a certain amount of game planning going on BUT EU won’t budge until it feels there’s no other option. Right now EU leaders prefer to sit back and see which way wind is blowing in Parliament ..still very unclear eg if a softer Brexit is a possibility 7
EU leaders have told the PM: there’s no point in her coming back to them, pushing for changes to current #Brexit deal until she can show them once and for all that she has the majority of MPs behind her 8
