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Leave aside the tactics of the Tory leadership race, this is the first 'pitch' on Brexit that seems to me to be in the ballpark.
Accepts 'no deal' doesn't really exist, seeks Irish buy-in for the border....but the faith in Alternative Arrangements remains.1/
Accepts 'no deal' doesn't really exist, seeks Irish buy-in for the border....but the faith in Alternative Arrangements remains.1/
True, the Political Declaration provides for space for Alternative Arrangements, but hope they can be found "as soon as possible during the implementation period" is ambitious/unrealistic...when u think a tech border plan for benign Dover-Calais isn't ready til 2030./2
The promise to get a time-limit for the backstop is also bold, but not beyond realms of possibility if we're talking 5-7 years + clear baked in Parliamentary majority as price of a deal. Even then, no should bet on this. /3
But caveats aside, this plan at least the basis for a conversation, and stands out against some of the tub-thumbing irrealism of other contenders, particularly acceptance that 'no deal' doesn't exist /4
The fundamental problem, is the still Tory/Backstop/Independent trade problem which is that it skirts needing to have a proper conversation about why #Brexit axiomatically = leaving EU customs union and the cost-benefit analysis of doing that. But realise that's bridge too far!/4
