UK's hopes for post-Brexit trade deal an illusion – Donald Tusk

Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, said the approach agreed at Chequers seemed to be the so-called baskets model, where the UK would align with the EU in some areas, have some alignment in others, and none elsewhere. “I think there’s no chance of the EU agreeing to the proposal,” he said. “The EU’s obsessed with the level playing field. It doesn’t trust any enforcement mechanism proposed by the British to police it adequately.”

May’s preferred option on new rules for EU nationals might also not survive contact with Brussels, Grant added. “My guess is May will find a way of climbing down gracefully, and giving the EU most of what it wants.”