Few extra points, from Milan event, on Johnson's "great new deal". 1) fact that NI will have to run 2 divergent customs regimes concurrently = reminiscent of Theresa May's old "customs partnership" proposals for UK as a whole... What did we say about those proposals at the time?
2) That they were completely untested & speculative, massively complex and bureaucratic, a serious threat to competitiveness of UK businesses... So what's changed? Not much - except Johnson willing to use NI as guinea-pig when he wouldn't risk / tolerate it for UK as a whole
3) Interesting to speak to Italians about life in NI: lot of people thought Good Friday Agreement had "put things back to normal". Genuine surprise/concern that NI in fact remains divided & fragile society- especially at idea that UK voters/Government prepared to destabilise that
4) Also surprise/concern that EU27 willing to allow external border of Single Market/Custom Union to be enforced (even with EU supervision) by third country (UK) agents - esp given allegations of poor UK record, eg on tackling VAT fraud. Did EU27 approve new Protocol too hastily?
All very interesting, but of course, part of Johnson's plan = to avoid proper scrutiny of his "great new deal" by replacing parliamentary scepticism with easy slogans & lies about "getting Brexit done" in upcoming election. If he gets majority- can pass deal no matter the details
