May's out. Who's in?

[RandBlade]

Boris's is a matter of opinion.

Hunt's though isn't a lie. 25% reaching below an expected level of reading is poor no matter what.

[Aimless]

Boris's is a matter of opinion.

Not really, no. To the extent that it is a matter of opinion, his opinion is most likely wrong, at least as far as trade law experts and especially WTO experts are concerned. Boris is neither.

[Steely Glint]

Boris's is a matter of opinion.

It's literally not:

https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e...on_art24_e.htm

5. Accordingly, the provisions of this Agreement shall not prevent, as between the territories of contracting parties, the formation of a customs union or of a free-trade area or the adoption of an interim agreement necessary for the formation of a customs union or of a free-trade area; Provided that:

(a) with respect to a customs union, or an interim agreement leading to a formation of a customs union, the duties and other regulations of commerce imposed at the institution of any such union or interim agreement in respect of trade with contracting parties not parties to such union or agreement shall not on the whole be higher or more restrictive than the general incidence of the duties and regulations of commerce applicable in the constituent territories prior to the formation of such union or the adoption of such interim agreement, as the case may be;


(b) with respect to a free-trade area, or an interim agreement leading to the formation of a free-trade area, the duties and other regulations of commerce maintained in each of the constituent territories and applicable at the formation of such free–trade area or the adoption of such interim agreement to the trade of contracting parties not included in such area or not parties to such agreement shall not be higher or more restrictive than the corresponding duties and other regulations of commerce existing in the same constituent territories prior to the formation of the free-trade area, or interim agreement as the case may be; and


(c) any interim agreement referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b) shall include a plan and schedule for the formation of such a customs union or of such a free-trade area within a reasonable length of time.

You cannot use this as a stop gap 'until you negotiate a free trade agreement' or some kind of get of gaol free card in the event of no deal, you can only use it to allow an interim agreement for a free trade area you already agreed. So a bit like the withdrawl agreement we already tried to negotiate and failed because we couldn't resolve the Northern Ireland issue.