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Davis's intervention this week was potentially calamitous. Transition less certain than ever- because Gov still refuses to understand it. 1/
2/ @BBCChrisMorris highlights point. Davis appears genuinely to believe that it won't be transition but implementation. Crucial distinction 
3/ Florence was meant to be admission that we won't have final agreement in place by '19; in effect, that we won't be ready to leave
4/ So transition was attempt to buy time. We'll keep status quo (minus UK votes) while we negotiate final deal. Extension in all but name
5/ It cannot be implementation phase because there'll be nothing to implement. Because there's no time. This was the whole point of Florence
6/ If we did have time to wrap this up, without further need to negotiate as Davis claims, why any transition? Gov tying itself up in knots
7/ Idea no more negotiations is preposterous insult. Assuming we start in Dec, that gives 10 months to agree most complex deal in EU history
8/ It cannot, will not be done. We said it for months. Gov finally accepted it, and May backed down in Florence. So why, David, unravel it?
9/ In language PM might understand: let me be clear. We need a transition. We need it to negotiate final deal. This will take a long time.
10/ If we think we can use transition to implement final deal, we will simply be lying to voters and ourselves. Everyone knows it. Admit it.
11/ We are backing away from Florence while we need to be going deeper. Transition of 2 years =start. 10 years =end. Implementation =no deal
12/ So, how to deal with 'bridge to nowhere' transition? EU clear that can't have a transition without destination. Davis is correct on this
13/ Point, however, is that it needs to be a basic outline of final deal. What are main things we might want? That could've done by 2019
14/ And then it could've been fleshed out, with all the vast details of exit/future, over 10 year transition. But that ship has sailed.
15/ Gov's disarray since A50 means no chance of being prepared for transition by 2019. We won't be ready to leave or have sufficient outline
16/ So in those circumstances only possible transition will be extension of negotiations. V complex/risky to do outside EU. Must be inside.
17/ So far from perpetuating fantasy that deal will be ready in 10 months & 'implemented' within 2yrs, maybe get real instead. Extend A50.
18/ It's more important to get deal right, however long it takes, than work to arbitrary deadline. British lives literally depend on it.
19/ If Davis unable to grasp this basic priority & reality, should make way for someone who can. Let the Govt rot, but leave Britain alone.
