Thread by @IanDunt

This is gold. "There are various sorts of no-deal." One involves a deal on aviation, data, nuclear apparently.

Then complete failure to agree -"That's so improbable it's off the scale." DD basically writing off no-deal here in any meaningful capacity.

Rees Mogg seems disappointed, which is revealing.

What DD saying is that no-deal (the sort that, you know, involves there not being a deal) not being considered, even if trade talks collapse

Follow the logic. If falling out w no deal on nuclear, aviation etc can't be countenanced, then our negotiating partner has upper hand.

This, of course, has been the problem throughout. Ignored ahead of Article 50, ignored during it, ignored now.

Fact it hasn't been addressed and watch-the-world-burn Brexiters still froth at the mouth about no-deal is why we're in such weak position.

DD claims not to have read the Chris Heaton-Harris letter with more emphasis than was strictly necessary.

Watch DD downgrade expectations for Brexit trade deal. This time last year it was freedom to have access to and operate within single market

Now? A deal on goods and "free access for services without non-tariff barriers where we can get them".

Incredible. DD asked if we'll be in single market and customs union after March 2019. "'Remain in' and 'have access to' will look alike."

The mic keeps picking up the sloppy sounds when DD sucks his glasses and it is upsetting me.

How is planning going for border infrastructure in case of no-deal? DD says lots of work going into "contingency planning".

Kinnock: You need to get this sorted soon or "it becomes absolutely clear it's just a bluff". DD: "We need to do it anyway." Eh?

The contingency planning maybe, but to preserve the bluff you need major infastructure spending. Which you may never need.

Kinnock: "How can you design an infastructure and an IT system without knowing your direction of travel?"

DD: "Not true we don't know parameters of what worst-case outcome would be."

DD point irrelevant. If it's no-deal you need full checks. If you get a deal, lighter checks. But you never know which it'll be.

So you can come up w contingency plans but you can't build for them. Because you don't know which it'll be.

All of which is bad, but not as bad as DD sucking his glasses.

DD timetable being confirmed: Transition agreed by end of Q1. Withdrawal agreement by... "coterminus with the forward relationship".

Cld be as late as March 2019. Not unreasonable. If you get into 2nd phase in Dec, you can get transition by March by accepting EU demands.

What's unreasonable, and borderline insane, is DD's insistence he can get a comprehensive trade deal signed off by end of A50.

DD just said it was his "request" that Oliver Robbins be moved.

Then stuttered for a bit and said there was a need to streamline processes.

DD statement on vote in March suggests parliament might only vote on deal after Britain had left the EU.

Extraordinary moment as DD basically says all modelling of future trade flows essentially meaningless as they are based on dated techniques.

But.... he commissioned those reports. And presumably decided the model upon which they were based.

Those impact reports must be an absolute horror story.

Benn: How could there be no border infrastructure in Ireland if there is no deal?

This'll be fun.

DD: "The mechanisms we have in mind... we actually wrote some of them up in our papers". Yes we read those David. They were not encouraging.

Still nothing there. Irish border issue is like a black hole in the middle of the debate. There is no solution. There is no answer to it.

There is only the wait until people who should damn well know better dare to say the reality of what their project entails.

DD: "Thing about the Commission is they do like to use time as a pressure point." Just incredible. It's like these guys didn't trigger A50.

Benn confirms to DD that he said parliament might only vote on deal *after* we have left the EU. This is just extraordinary.

That's what parliamentary sovereignty looks like under Brexit.

Ok, session over.