It is remarkable, talking to EU side, how much readiness there still is, in theory, to give Johnson some cosmetic 'win' 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't following this stuff or invested in the whole confrontational narrative in the same way. Rest of Europe has moved on.