As feared.
Frost going for the more positive tone this time.
October 31 the deadline. Bit later than I'd expect. 2 months to ratify and implement seems too sporty. You'd need the deal to come with its own implementation period on that timing.
The emphasis on the political declaration is because normally two sides of a negotiation would have agreed some kind of scope up front. Trouble is PD was originally Theresa May's consolation prize for not having trade in the Withdrawal Agreement.
The Political Declaration was hastily changed in a few parts to fit with Johnson's policies, but in essence it remains something that neither party thought about too much. Claiming otherwise might be convenient but isn't right.
If one side refuses to set a sensible timescale for the negotiations and the other side goes along with it because they think it will deliver them advantage you're not starting negotiations in good faith. Now to see if the leaders can reset towards a deal than still can be done.
Anyway basically Barnier has indicated even more strongly where the EU will compromise - state aid and fisheries. Which we'd already guessed. But so far no indication of where the UK will compromise. That's going to be a big focus now.
This potential UK compromise has already been ruled out on timing grounds. And frankly it wouldn't remove the need for other compromises.
So anyway to close the latest Brexit thread the question to ask UK Ministers and "senior sources close to the negotiations" - is the UK prepared to meet the EU's compromises on level playing field and fisheries? /end
