Brexit backstop: will the DUP make a policy?

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Is the DUP about to make a 180 and support the Irish Sea Controls under a Brexit agreement?

Political shifts are not unknown, after all.

But in this case, this seems like a good solution.

Newspapers report that the DUP has privately edited its red lines behind the scenes. They were quickly swept away – and made public – by senior party officials.

But is it the complete story?

It is important to define what the DUP has said that it will accept and how its tone has changed in recent days, raising a whiff of hope regarding a possible deal.

The party has always placed union protection at the center of its agenda, putting Brexit in second place. At the beginning of the negotiations, he insisted that there could be no agreement to split the split between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

He had, however, stated that he could accept certain differences in regulations which did not prejudice trade with Great Britain or the Union.

The Northern Ireland Assembly would also need to monitor the process.

While continuing to oppose security, the party has relaxed its wording, saying it would be open to "arrangements" on all islands regarding food standards and animal health, which could partially eliminate the need for controls at the land border.

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This would mean that Northern Ireland continues to abide by certain EU rules and accepts new controls on certain products from Great Britain.

They did not specify what the arrangements might look like – do not expect them either.

The Times' story suggested that the DUP could accept EU rules in other areas as well – perhaps that is why the party has fallen so hard.

If the DUP is to support something that even slightly resembles NI, which accepts only the EU rules, it will have to be able to sell it.

The Prime Minister also talks about their ideas.

Boris Johnson found himself stuck in front of Parliament and, by demanding the disappearance of protection, he has few options left to reach an agreement before the deadline set for Halloween.

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Is a compromise occurring?

There have certainly been more hearty words this week in Brussels, when Irish Commissioner to the European Union, Phil Hogan, said that he thought there was a "movement on both sides ".

But we still do not know what the landing zone will look like for a last minute deal.

Will the DUP and Boris Johnson, despite their protests, go beyond the "arrangements" for all the islands and move towards a specific solution to Northern Ireland?

What will the EU be ready to sign up for?

If Stormont had the power to refuse to accept new EU regulations on food standards, this would not guarantee the absence of hard borders in the future.

Could Stormont play an advisory role on European issues that would apply in Northern Ireland?

Do not forget that Stormont should first be operational, but there is a theory that, if an agreement were reached, there would be a two-year transition period that could give some respite to the recovery of deconcentration so: Stormont to play his role.

There is also the issue of trust: the DUP stated that he did not believe that Boris Johnson would turn their backs on them and subscribe to anything with which he did not agree.

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Others are not so sure.

Cynics might say in the national press that stories that the DUP is softening are an attempt by someone to convince the party to accept something else.

At present, political tactics are deployed from all sides.

Nobody wants to be seen moving too much.

Despite what key players will all say publicly, they know that someone will have to give more and accept more.

Behind the scenes, the discussions could be very different – there is pressure for an agreement to materialize.

Boris Johnson said that he really wanted to leave the EU with an agreement on October 31st.

The question now may be who can shout out to him what this deal should look like, in the seemingly short time.