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The key thing is to secure a “reopening of the WA”. Put all your new PM political capital into persuading the EU27 to do that with the implicit / explicit promise that nothing substantive will be changed.
Make a series of re-naming changes. Change the backstop to a protocol which will be reviewed at x date. Rebadge the 39bn so its profiled more accurately over the many many years it will be paid.
Then take the - presumed - changes the EU have been holding in their back pocket and add those in too. These - logically - will also be long on rhetoric and short on substance.
Make significant changes to the political declaration. After all that has no legal weight. Make that even more Canada +++++++++++. Ask the ERG for drafting changes and accept them wholesale. Throw in every unicorn there is to this doc. It will be a total mess. Who cares.
Then, when you have a deal that has changed stylistically - and again, crucially, *has secured a reopened WA*, go back to Parliament. Use all your new PM political capital again. You need votes to pass the deal and (probably) a short extension to secure this new shiny plan.
The major major argument is that you, Boris, have done what no one thought possible. You have reopened the WA Your deal is different to May’s. Look at the changes.
Squeeze the ERG hard. You’re one of them. They don’t want to betray you. Use the forthcoming SR to buy off 10-15 Lab MPs and a bunch of soft Leave Tories in marginal seats. Throw a lot of peerages around (one for Farage if he shuts up).
Get round the country. Do some rallies. Use the power of your office to make clear that you can shift votes towards or against MPs in an election if you’re campaigning in their seat.
Tell MPs if this doesn’t work it’s a second referendum. No one wants that at all; more MPs would want an election so don’t give them that. No discussion - your plan or no plan. Only appoint a Cabinet who agree with this plan and who will support it wholeheartedly.
I mean, bugger all idea if this would work. It’s unbelievably cynical, relies on even a bunch of Brexit MPs now wanting this to be done, and requires a load of cash and an assumption that Boris can shift votes and become quasi Presidential.But it’s the best strategy he has got.
