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Back to trying to decode Brexit talks. Suddenly the talk is of a UK proposal based around an all-Ireland SPS (food products basically) zone which the UK will present to the EU at the European Council on Oct 17. For now there seem few grounds for optimism 1/
The EU's checks on animals / food products are far more exacting than in any other area, thus the ERG associated Alternative Arrangements Commission experts struggled to even put forward a solution without some all-island commonality. This seems to what the UK Gov proposes 2/ 
This proposal actually offers no guarantee of no border infrastructure, as at any time Northern Ireland can diverge, requiring border checks if the Republic chooses not to diverge from the EU as will be the case. Not sensible, not going to be acceptable 3/
More problematic, if the rest of the UK's suggestions are based on the Alternative Arrangements report, these have already been rejected by EU and Northern Ireland business - not least as checks are simply moved from the border in some cases. VAT is brushed away. Not happening 4/
When we hear is that talks are currently "exploring" all-Ireland SPS that almost certainly means the EU asking numerous questions about how this would work in practice, as you do in a negotiation. It isn't a reason for particular optimism 5/
The DUP report that Number 10 is not considering a Northern Ireland only backstop, adding credence to the idea that it is the AA Commission report being discussed at the moment, with the Northern Ireland veto... 6/
The EU's position remains unchanged as far as we know, sure we can discuss alternatives, but they must mean no border or associated checks. On this basis the best the UK would be able to do is reframe joint working after an agreement to include all-island SPS 7/
As for taking proposals to European Council on October 17th, as before that's not where we'll negotiate. Council will consider the progress made, and one suspects discuss the terms of the extension to be offered. But mostly not with the UK in the room. 8/
Negotiators listen, ask questions, probe in detail. That's not a ground for optimism, just what they do. I fear we're once again entering the Brexit UK optimism zone, which is typically a short phase before reality comes intruding 9/ end
PS expected such responses... it is very important to understand that numerous trade and customs experts across the UK including in Northern Ireland disagree with large parts of the Alternative Arrangements report.
