No indication of EU cowed but prospect of a ‘take it or leave it’ offer from the PM /1
Ireland is adamant. The words of deputy PM Simon Coveney: . “Obviously we’ll study any proposal carefully, but if the reports are true it doesn’t look like the basis of an agreement, that’s for sure.” /2
The PM has said no customs checks in NIreland but what of the Republic? EU has said no to checks on the whole island of Ireland. It says NIreland peace process can only be protected by safeguarding the all Ireland economy ie no checks at all /3
EU will take its cue from Dublin on the PMs proposals. UK gamble seems to be other EU members like Germany (which have a lot to lose economically in a no deal Brexit) will lean on Ireland and say: Let’s take a deal that guarantees citizens rights and financial settlement and../4
Swallow customs checks on island of Ireland rather than risk no deal with definite customs checks ..” BUT PM possibly misunderstands how EU works. Merkel is VERY keen to show EU unity and Varadkar and his minority’s gov are under pressure at home NOT to compromise” /5
PM today describes how customs checks carried out after Brexit as a technical detail not worth a no deal Brexit BUT he misunderstands AGAIN the role of backstop. It’s not just about an rule obsessed organisation refusing to be “imaginative” or “flexible” /6
As EU often portrayed in Brexit debate. In fact EU has 2 priorities the backstop designed to protect: integrity of single market +safeguarding of NIreland peace process. For EU custom checks signify interruption of all Ireland ec, N/S coop, possibly provoking civil unrest +more/7
