Jeppy

EU bristling at government ‘take it or leave it’ attitude ahead of submitting proposals on how to replace the backstop. Senior diplomat:”How can a country say it’s leaving EU, ask Brussels for a deal on way out and then try to threaten the EU into compromising its principles”/1

EU position is that it has not seen hint of anything they’d enter negotiating tunnel for yet (idea of customs between NIreland and Ireland a huge alarm bell for EU) bc they’d have to be sure there was something concrete in front of them that COULD shape up into a deal BUT /2

EU will be careful not to rubbish Johnson’s proposals entirely (while critical they may speak of a ‘basis’ for discussion) bc Brussels needs to try to find deal - needs to be seen to try .. /3

Senior EU source tells me: chance of deal by mid October EU summit: none Chance of deal by end of month: doubtful /4

EU diplomat: “The more you leave the backstop text, the more EU wants legal precision from UK .. exploring all eventualities in the future, ‘explore every corner’” The EU view is: there’s not enough time .. unless there’s another extension /5