Thread by @Usherwood

This is an important development, for several reasons:

1/

https://twitter.com/Usherwood/status/1034691954951499777

Firstly, it's a much more public recognition of what was already widely understood: progress has been too minimal since March(!) On WA issues to allow for an Oct #EUCO conclusion

2/

That in turn means that there's a drop in pressure to bust a gut right now to get things moving (Not that anyone was very obviously so doing)

3/

That also implies that Raab's opening rounds of talks in past week haven't changed the basic dynamics, underlining No.10's centrality to the process

4/

And crucially, pushing back to Nov means less time for either ratification or more general dealing-with-problems, of which there will doubtless be more

5/

The big risk is that both sides are buying into a model of last-minute dealing, to deprive critics space to complain/derail.

Understandable, but risky given situation in HoC (and Cabinet for that matter)

6/

In short, this was probably inevitable, but doesn't mean it's not risky

/end