Thread by @alexwickham

NEW

— if No10 can find space to shift for a deal, it plans inducements to win over rebels and "desperate" DUP, then ask EU to rule out extension

— if not, they will "go straight through" the Benn law and prepare for Oct Supreme Court battle and a budget

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…

No10 thinks the EU will not offer an extension if the UK govt does not want one

Pro-Brexit lawyer who worked on Vote Leave says an October court case be based on: “Is there a line that the legislature cannot cross that is the preserve of the executive?”

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…

Preparations also being made for an emergency end of October budget (as @SamCoatesSky
reported this week)...

One potential benefit for the govt would be that it eats up Commons time with days of debates as clock ticks down

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…

Boris Johnson has begun a charm offensive with MPs

— PM meeting Spartans
— Whips ringing round ERG asking "How are you feeling about a deal?”
— "I came away very worried. It is obvious that any deal they come back with will be putting lipstick on a pig"

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…

— A cabinet minister who spoke to DUP leader Arlene Foster recently said they believed she is now “desperate” for a deal

— another MP close to the DUP put their apparent shift down to them being worried about no-deal and losing seats at an election

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…

In the event of a deal, re No10 idea of asking the EU to rule out a long extension, Whitehall sources say it's the best way of making sure a deal goes through

— senior European govt official tells @AlbertoNardelli the EU "could well" be up for that

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…

@AlbertoNardelli BUT even if Johnson does manage to get a deal, UK could still not leave on Oct 31

A senior EU official tells @AlbertoNardelli
it is "very likely" a short extension would be needed to allow for the two sides' ratification processes

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…