The final part of our mini-series with Policy Exchange on rebalancing the Union in the wake of Boris Johnson’s deal.
This is Ireland’s deal as much as the UK’s. So the Taoiseach has an interest in assisting the Prime Minister over extension.
Overall, most English voters would rather keep the Union together if it were up to them.
The Taoiseach adds that the deal finalised today “creates a unique solution for Northern Ireland”.
By being so scornful, his critics have set a low bar for him. We are about to see whether he can astonish them by bounding over it.
The Prime Minister himself has said that the May Withdrawal Agreement is dead – and dual-tariff systems for Northern Ireland would be unacceptable.
If a UK-EU deal is agreed, it will be because both men want one urgently – which in turn opens a chance to reset Anglo-Irish relations.
There might not be time, but it at least now appears that a UK-EU deal on Brexit is conceivable.
Let me give seven examples of principles that most Conservatives would support. I struggle to reconcile them with those pursuing a No Deal Brexit at any cost.
The Prime Minister and Taoiseach met today to try to break the deadlock over the Northern Irish backstop.
The vehement Johnson of last week transformed himself into a master of the soft word that turneth away wrath.
Had the Benn Act not been passed, it would be far stronger – as he presents his new “fair and reasonable compromise” to the EU.
The Irish Government have failed to grasp the extent to which unionist concerns would be listened in London.
The ignorance of many MPs and ministers towards the state of seaside communities is particularly surprising as coastal constituencies elect a quarter of all MPs.