Media focus is on the DUP. But we can’t help suspecting that near the heart of policy is a preoccupation with those just-in-time supply chains.
There is no Commons majority for no deal, for a Canada deal mark two, or at the moment for a second referendum. But there is a majority for EFTA/EEA.
We prefer Canada Plus Plus Plus. But a question could emerge over the next few months: is it a better option than an unmanageable No Deal – or even no Brexit at all?
Let’s accept we will be far better off leaving with a Canadian-style free trade agreement – or, failing that, WTO terms.
If there must be checks on goods leaving the island of Ireland, is it not more natural that they take place crossing the border where checks on persons already occur?
The UK plus EFTA would have a greater GDP than Germany. As one, we would be the largest economy in Europe.
The Government must avoid one which can be ‘triggered’ in the event of any UK regulatory divergence on goods or agriculture.
It comes down to whether people feel that the outcome has delivered May’s goal that the UK should “regain control of our own money, our own laws and our own borders”.
If Tory MPs think that No Deal would collapse Brexit altogether, or that it would be unmanageable next March, they need a Plan B. But we stress: if.
As a split in the Conservative Party finally threatens for real, May must explain why and when she backed off mutual recognition.
They risk a reputation of betraying the largest vote in British history.
Whitehall’s touted model is inherently flawed. It was ruled out during the referendum and by the Conservative manifesto.