It is remarkable, talking to EU side, how much readiness there still is, in theory, to give Johnson some cosmetic & #39;win& #39; for domestic consumption if that is what it takes to get a deal over the line. A ramp for him to walk down with dignity and call it triumphant parade .. 1/

There is no respect for the man, and no flex on real substance of single market integrity. Just a realpolitik calculation that he might still see come to his own political self-interest served by a climbdown dressed as victory ... 2/

And no political cost to EU leaders from letting Johnson puff up his pride because their domestic audiences aren& #39;t following this stuff or invested in the whole confrontational narrative in the same way. Rest of Europe has moved on.