Thread by @JP_Biz

Leadership candidates. What do they think of the backstop?

JOHNSON: The backstop is a 'monstrosity' that wipes out the UK's sovereignty. It is 'is being used to coerce the UK into becoming a vassal state of Brussels'. (though he did vote for it that one time)
irishtimes.com/news/politics/…

RAAB: Some people in Dublin, NI & Brussels see the backstop as an opportunity to 'control' the UK after Brexit. UK needs a unilateral backstop exit mechanism but with "a string of assurances" for the Irish government. (also voted for it that one time)

bbc.co.uk/news/world-eur…

MCVEY: 'The Prime Minister now needs to go back to the EU to get a better deal - fundamentally, to ensure the removal of the backstop' (also voted for it that one time)
conservativehome.com/platform/2019/…

BRADY (of amendment fame): Replace the backstop with 'alternative arrangements' ie. MaxFac (also voted for it that one time)
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…

HUNT: Reportedly wants a time limit to the backstop (has voted for it) blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/01/jeremy…

HANCOCK: It should have a time limit conservativehome.com/video/2018/10/…

So all of the above agin the backstop, to one degree or another, in its current form. But when push came to shove all voted in favour of a deal which contained it.

GOVE: ‘Uncomfortable’ with backstop but makes the more nuanced point that the EU won’t really want to see it triggered either belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/go…

STEWART: Backed May all the way but suggested that the EU might change the backstop if there was a clear signal about what would get through Parliament newsandstar.co.uk/news/17358297.…

BAKER: Get rid & replace with Malthouse Compromise ie. MaxFac theguardian.com/politics/2019/…

JAVID: The backstop can be MaxFac-ed away if only the EU would show a bit of goodwill bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-pol…

So the pitch from all of the above, to a greater or lesser degree, is ‘change the backstop’. Meanwhile NI has returned 2 out of 3 MEPs who are content with the backstop as it & pro-backstop parties had the majority of FPVs. Doubtless all the candidates will engage with this.

MALTHOUSE: (of compromise fame) Longer transition period in order to get alternative arrangements (ie. tech solutions) in place ukandeu.ac.uk/fact-figures/w…

HARPER: Replace the backstop with a trade agreement, after the style of the Malthouse compromise. The PM didn’t try hard enough markharper.org/news/how-i-vot…

CLEVERLY: Needs a time limit which, apparently, the UK Gov was ‘very, very close’ to getting. lbc.co.uk/radio/presente…

Still 10 days for more candidates to declare.

But on the field so far it looks like there’s a good chance the next PM will be rocking up in Brussels in the early autumn, brandishing the report of the Hands-Morgan MaxFac Commission & demanding the WA is reopened.