This report HERE in The Irish Times claims there is rising pessimism in Dublin about the prospects for the talks. I wouldn't worry too much, the chances of the talks collapsing are close to zero. These reports are a simply a way for the EU and Ireland to influence UK public opinion and so apply a bit of pressure on our government. There is no way any British government could walk away without a withdrawal agreement, and by extension a trade deal. The damage to the economy would be colossal.
Last night, on Newsnight, the BBC's nightly political programme, Ian Dale, a Conservative blogger (Ian Dale's Diary) and now an LBC presenter said the withdrawal agreement was "settled" but this is wishful thinking. The Irish border is still a huge issue and there is no final agreement on judicial enforcement or citizens rights. As Barnier has said, there is still about 25% of the agreement to agree - but what remains is the most difficult stuff.
The Times in London are reporting that Ireland will suspend the talks unless an agreement on the border is settled by the June summit.
May, Davis and Ollie Robbins probably know already they will eventually have to accede to everything the EU demand. The delay is only to give an impression there is a negotiation voting on. There isn't. In so far as a no deal Brexit was ever possible, with less than eleven months to go, it is completely out of the question now. Sterling sank like stone after the referendum, causing a spike in inflation that we are still feeling the effects of now. Imagine the markets if the talks collapsed with the deadline just months away. The pound would reach parity with the penny overnight.
No, there is no chance of talks ending but the next few weeks will show Brexiteers just how much of a supplicant we have become.
