The Malthouse process, now officially approved by @theresa_may , had a first day of talks between Brexiters, Remainers, officials and ministers that was described by a couple of those in the room as “serious”, “constructive”, “detailed” and “lengthy” - on how to keep open...

...the border on the island of Ireland using a conventional free trade agreement and light-touch new tech inspections away from the border. The point for those in the room, as you know, is to deploy these “alternative arrangements” to replace the widely hated “backstop”...

... enshrined in the Withdrawal Agreement. And there is the rub. Because no one in the room knows whether the prime minister sees their work as a proper and compelling exercise, whose fruits will be the basis of new talks with Brussels, or as a...