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Suspect not serious proposals if UK Government expect a full renegotiation in 10 days or so in time for an agreement ahead of the European Council (reminder - Brexit will not be negotiated at that meeting).
Bear in mind the pretty hostile reception given to the UK non-papers, and the increasingly terse nature of Commission communications about Brexit. Equally there's a blame game to be played, which is probably more pertinent.
We may all yet be surprised. But if either side are preparing the sort of movement that would lead to a Brexit deal they are disguising it very heavily as if they are preparing instead for something else.
The future Lord Menon of Brexit tends to agree...
Seriously if you wanted to finish a negotiation in a couple of weeks you'd be honing in on the last couple of issues that need to be solved and signalling as such, rather than still disagreeing over fundamentals
Incidentally though, and I'm sure pure coincedence, that the news of text proposals comes on a Friday evening in good time for the weekend papers.
Part of a thread from a former UK government EU expert
Pretty much confirmation that the UK is going to put forward text proposals they know the EU will reject. "Serious and workable" is most definitively not the view of the EU on the UK proposals
Whether some on the UK side still believe the EU will cave at the last minute, or they all know this is just a game, hard to tell. This government doesn't answer questions. Either way not a happy site seeing important negotiations trivialised.
All roads still appear to lead towards the Government not sending a letter requesting a Brexit extension on 19 October, and what happens next. Those opposed to no-deal have 22 days to work it out.
By the way, don't think you're getting mini deals by that or any other name, say the EU...
Cue more "EU are picking on us / not compromising" stories. Sorry, that's what the stronger powers do. It's what the UK did when we were a world leading power. No use complaining about it, we have to find ways to deal with it.
