Thread by @Usherwood

Off to give evidence to @CommonsEUexit this morning on #EUCO, but since #IndicativeVotes is likely to come up, let's run through the options to consider the EU's probable view on them

1/

A) "Constitutional and accountable government" is about not changing Standing Order 14, so not an EU concern per se

2/

B) "No deal" is what it says and raises no technical issue for the EU, especially in light of recent statements that prep from this is all set

3/

C) "Unilateral right of exit from backstop" will be completely unacceptable to EU, as it has made clear very many times

4/

D) "Common market 2.0" involves joining EFTA, then EEA, plus customs. There has been caution from both EFTA & EU about upsetting EEA, but general model might be viable. However para 2, making this binding on UK, can't work (as it's a negotiation)

5/

E) "Respect the referendum result" doesn't really say anything except honouring #EURef, so no implication for EU

6/

F) "Participation in a customs union" would be compatible with EU options

7/

G) "Revocation instead of no deal" is within UK power alone, as along as revocation in unconditional (per the Wightman ruling)

8/

H) "EFTA & EEA" is much like D, except with view that UK can remain in EEA, which EU would dispute

9/

I) "Consent of devolved institutions" doesn't impinge on EU side of things at all

10/

J) "Customs union" is like F

11/

K) "Labour's alternative plan" includes customs union (fine), 'close alignment' with single market (UK's choice) with 'shared institutions' (unlikely if not fully inside SM) and participation in various EU programmes (probably fine)

12/

L) "Revocation to avoid no deal" is like G

13/

M) "Confirmatory public vote" is a matter for UK process only, but would need a long extension to Art.50, which EU would be likely to give on such grounds

14/

N) "Malthouse compromise plan A" requires a replacement of backstop element of WA, which EU has firmly and repeatedly rejected

15/

O) "Contingent preferential arrangements" suggests that if WA can't pass, gvt should try to get various agreements w EU 'immediately', which isn't compatible w how EU makes such arrangements, esp given that some parts of it (trade facilitation) don't exist in practice

16/

P) "Contingent reciprocal arrangements" requires UK to match any EU commitments in event of non-adoption of WA, plus unilaterally guarantee of EU citizen rights. Since this would be unilateral, no implication for EU

17/

And that's your lot. A lot of internal elements, but also some things that the EU would find impossible or very difficult to accept

/end

(And I'll try to make a nice graphic of this later this morning)

@UKandEU @nogbad