Boris and Leo Varadkar “see pathway” to a deal

[elprup]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/10/boris-johnson-and-leo-varadkar-say-they-see-pathway-to-brexit-deal

What are your thoughts? Does this mean Brexit is going ahead after all?

Following a conversation with Johnson, Varadkar is of the impression that there is a pathway to a deal.

Unfortunately he might be just another victim of Johnson's love of flowery, imprecise prose.

Need to wait for the unattributed No. 10 briefing

I think Varadkar is the key to a deal. The fact that Ireland advocated a very similar solution to the Irish border problem if there were a no deal has to count for something.

Is it wrong that I was hoping they wouldn’t reach a deal? I’d rather there was an extension and a general election so we have the chance to remain in the EU!

I think that ship has sailed, elprup. An excellent result now would be some kind of fairly close relationship with the EU.

If the deal is for NI to remain in the customs union - will the DUP go along with being different from rest of UK.
And what about the SNP - they won’t be happy either.

Is it wrong that I was hoping they wouldn’t reach a deal? I’d rather there was an extension and a general election so we have the chance to remain in the EU!

It’ll take more than what was said today for me to think they’ll get a deal sorted in the next fortnight!

I’ve stopped listening to the daily fluctuations and leaks.

Joint customs area suggested on BBC just now. If they make that work in a way that protects the GFA and Steve single market, that would be ok.

Steve? 😂😂EU.

Maybe Steve is a new character in this!

I heard a NI journalist being interviewed on RTÉ radio who said the DUP are freaking out that Boris is going to forsake them. Not before time, if Teresa May wasn't in hock to them after the last election none of this sorry mess would have happened.

NI in the customs union is the only way to solve this, unionists mightn't love it but from what I've read they'll accept it rather than flushing the NI economy down the toilet.

will the DUP go along with being different from rest of UK

The DUP's position is very weak now which was bjcum's aim all along so it doesn't really matter if they're shafted.

It’d mean that instead of the EU throwing Ireland under the bus it’s London throwing the Unionists’ idea of NI under the bus

elprup no not wrong at all , feel the same way.

I am intrigued what this 'pathway' is and what it involves ? Given the secrecy, I imagine there are a few people currently making up some special terminology for something that has been mooted before, in an attempt to pretend it is a brand new solution.

They may both see a pathway to a deal. Not necessarily the same pathway, or the same deal

If it is a customs union then in a practical way it will mean that if, say, a cheese maker in NI sells their cheese to Tesco in Dublin there will be no tariffs but if the sell it to Tesco in Liverpool there will be tariffs to pay which you can imagine will tie the DUP up in knots.

titchy, why is the DUP's position weak? Doesn't Johnson need them to boost his non-existent majority?

Tbe DUP's potential voters want peace and prosperity. That should be enough incentive for them.

It's this deal or no deal, so I just hope it goes through and ends this awful turmoil. I just want it done whether it's remain or a deal like this. Just finished and start to rebuild.

DUP have already said they are happy with this deal. Complete 360 degrees, but heyho

After three years of this I am amazed to see people still swallowing the spin hook line and sinker rather than saying "let's wait for the detail".

why is the DUP's position weak? Doesn't Johnson need them to boost his non-existent majority?

No. Even with the DUP BJ doesn't have a majority since 21 lost the whip. So no point him trying to keep them sweet when their support isn't enough.

Joint customs area suggested on BBC just now. If they make that work in a way that protects the GFA and Steve single market, that would be ok.

How come they’ve only just thought of that - after three years?

I think that ship has sailed

I don’t know... an extension plus a general election was looking like a distinct possibility yesterday.

It appears to be just the original NI backstop, repackaged with a consent mechanism.

It's this deal or no deal

Let’s not forget there’s also a third possibility - an extension, general election and second referendum!

So we will see, but I would venture that this is dead in the water unless enough Labour MPs support.