Thread by @KellerZoe

If the chances of a deal now stand at 20%, why not walk away and help businesses fully prepare for an exit on WTO terms? According to one well-placed source, the current stalemate is not just about the negotiation itself but also “blame allocation.”
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/…

“This is going to go on until New Year’s Eve because the side that says: ‘Right, that’s it, no more negotiations’ is going to be blamed for no deal. No one wants to be that person.”

Another reason for both sides going the distance is to prove they have negotiated in “good faith”. Some Brexiteers believe the Govt will have stronger grounds to repudiate the WA (beyond the parts singled out by the Internal Market Bill) if no deal is struck.

The PD clearly states that only agreements developed in “good faith” will give effect to the future relationship.
This gives the UK grounds to argue the EU has acted unreasonably in denying the UK a Canada-style deal, after Tusk's promise in October 2018.

@MPIainDS: “The UK Govt wants to be seen to be going the extra mile so they can say to the British public, and indeed the world: ‘We tried everything. Our ask is very simple and absolutely right. Their ask is indefensible and the optics are going to be very bad for them.

It’s suddenly beginning to dawn on the EU that we won’t back down. Every Pm since Thatcher has caved in but Boris has been very clear from the beginning, Brexit must mean Brexit.”