Thread by @adampayne26

Here's the key extract from Johnson's letter to Juncker setting out his proposal

Pretty much what @pmdfoster reported

@pmdfoster Before the end of the transition period (December 2010) and once every 4 years, Northern Ireland's democratic institutions would vote whether to maintain or ditch its regulatory alignment with the EU (the potential DUP veto)

@pmdfoster "This means that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland will be a customs border. That does not mean that customs checks and controls need to take place at, or even near, that border."

New: Asked what would happen in regards to the border/checks if Northern Ireland’s democratic institutions voted to end regulatory alignment with the EU, a government official says “that’s a discussion we will have closer to the time”...

The government official also said Johnson “does not intend” to extend the transition period but did not rule it out

Lots of question marks over this element of consent:

If NI's democratic institutions vote *against* continued alignment with the EU, it'll "default to existing rules"

What are "existing rules"?

The government official was unable to say just now

Juncker statement after phone call with Johnson:

NI regulatory alignment is a "positive" step but there are "some problematic points that will need further work":

- governance
- "substantive" customs rules

The European Commission will "now examine the legal text objectively"

Juncker: "The EU wants a deal. We remain united and ready to work 24/7 to make this happen – as we have been for over three years now"