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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
, 6 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
So it's going to be big picture Boris Johnson versus the realities of Government and international relations.
Free ports could be the perfect symbol for PM Johnson. Of highly dubious economic value, but something he can point at and say "I did that"
The problems of joined up Government - animal welfare is not a new Conservative Party topic but a US trade deal would be hugely controversial on that score.

Important point though - Johnson has an instinctive understanding of communications that critics don't get and Theresa May doesn't have. On Brexit he spoke to both deal and no-deal. Rightly.

Delivery is going to be the issue.
My former boss David Frost is confirmed as going to work on Brexit. Suspect the success or failure of any renegotiation are entirely down to whether the UK accepts the rationale for the backstop, or not i.e. improve or scrap
To borrow from the text - there *is* a deal that can be done without checks on the border and without *that* anti-democratic backstop. Say goodbye anti-democratic backstop, hello democratic Boris backstop. Or it could mean unicorns. We wait to see.
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
This assertion is regularly made and should be challenged continually as being part of the same Brexiteer unwillingness to accept that any deal with the EU (or US or anyone) requires compromise. The longer this goes in the bigger the hole we dig ourselves into
Meanwhile at trade doubling down on the US trade deal that will be hugely controversial and may pass neither Congress or Parliament, free ports of no clear benefit, and a free trade policy based on erecting trade barriers to our nearest trade partner

The world mostly thinks a no deal Brexit is a sign of the UK retreating from free trade

Read 4 tweets
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
Universal take, so many sackings means preparing for an election. Perhaps, but alternative explanation is this is someone who got the job they always wanted and intends to do exactly what they please with it, unsullied by any doubts whatsoever.
Additionally, Boris Johnson owns Brexit with this reshuffle. He's said the chances of no-deal are remote. The EU repeat their lines and says the backstop is essential. He can and will blame them as the problem if he chooses. But it won't be a good look.
From the first appointments this doesn't exactly scream 'winning team at an election' does it? Unshakeable belief from Johnson, he's getting the deal, and this is the team to do it.
Read 4 tweets
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
Worth a little thread on the language of Government. Essentially "sherpa" = PM's advisor and lead official preparing for summits like G7, G20, European Council. They define what the UK wants to see in a summit outcome, and negotiate an actual text, with cross-Government support
"Sherpas" are assisted in turn by "yaks" (not making this up I promise) who in reality do lots of the legwork on communicating with Government departments, international counterparts, and literally carry the bags when the summit actually happens.
Other EU Member States have "Sherpas" and "Yaks", as do the likes of the US, Japan, Australia etc. It is a key part of summit diplomacy

Quite the international network. Jon Cunliffe and Ivan Rogers were the two UK Sherpas I experienced, in rather long cross-Whitehall meetings
Read 6 tweets

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Ed Davey 🔶
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Staedtler
@Staedtler
You go your way, I'll go mine. This is what's going to happen:
We suppose Boris Johnson wins the Tory leadership.
The best he can hope for is a majority of 4, although by then it might be 3.
And that's with the DUP
Parliament has already shown willing to legislate in spite of government.
A prime minister with no majority, who has neither won nor even fought a general election, will not be allowed to execute such a drastic policy.
It would only need two Tory MPs - and you can even name the two - and the government would fall.
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Edwin Hayward🦄🏹🗡️
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Here's Boris Johnson in more unguarded times, saying he would vote to stay in the single market. This deserves a lot of love, so you know what to do!
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