A day in store at Checkers

Often, the hype around a political event is inversely proportional to the drama of what's going on Actually. Maybe not this time.

Ministers will meet today at Checkers in order to approve the Prime Minister 's plan for future UK relations with the EU after Brexit.

But the Brexit ministers warned that the 120-page plan as it is written is flawed. They were discussing late Thursday on how to respond at the cabinet meeting tomorrow.

And to say that they are a little angry with the plan, that they only received in full Thursday afternoon, is a euphemism. There are so many in there that they do not like, and it's easy to see why.

The BBC understands that the plan includes:

• A commitment for a legally binding agreement to follow EU rules on property, so that they can be freely traded under a "settlement" common "
• move that could mean that there would be no agreement on services, which constitutes the majority of the economy
• The United Kingdom should continue to accept the mandate of the European Court of Justice in certain regions

that even if trade agreements with other countries like the United States are possible, they could be more difficult to do because, according to the rules agreed with the EU, it would be more difficult to respond to the "demands" of other countries.

A minister also expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed customs model – the customs arrangement facilitated – saying that it was like "less customs partnership" – simply a revision of the customs partnership model that was rejected by the Brexit Internal Committee

A former Conservative suggested that "the party would not wear it". A senior Brexite official said that much of the document was "problematic", and that there were "a lot of possibilities for argumentation".

Essentially, for those who want a dramatic break with the EU, this remains far away, even though the number 10 insists that it's just an evolution of what the Prime Minister has already promised.

Frankly, from what we've heard, language does a lot of work, with much of it "opaque".

He sketches a relationship with the EU that is much stricter than what the Brexiters had advocated. Would it really be Brexit? Number 10 would say yes, Jacob Rees Mogg would say no.

For the rest of us? It depends on what you think the country voted for.

The tension around the meeting is high, the ministers being informed in an e-mail that they will have to hand over their phones and Apple watches upon their arrival at Checkers.

Brexit ministers shared their concerns at a meeting at the Foreign Secretary's office Thursday night about the plan, with a source saying "it's not going to fly."

They said that they would "simply reject it if she formally tried to impose it". But another Brexite source said that they should "talk" before drawing any conclusions on the plan.

But a minister who pleaded for a close relationship with the EU told the BBC that while the plan was "diabolically complicated … no one had a better idea".

A former minister who advocates closer ties with the EU told the BBC that she had urged the prime minister to consider sacking Brexiters who refuse to sign.

They suggested that "blood on the carpet" might not be a bad thing. They said that they believed the prime minister "had enough steel in his spine" to be able to order ministers to support his plan or proceed with a reshuffle.

Tonight, the City also worries about the possibility of abandoning the prospect of a tight agreement on services to ensure the end of free movement. An insider suggested that Chancellor Philip Hammond might try to "trap" the services in the draft agreement tomorrow.

Sources on all sides of the argument suggest that it is too early to say how the talks will end tomorrow. There are requests tonight for "significant redefinition". Discussions begin around 10:00 am BST and should end around 22:00 BST.

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Insiders also suggest that the EU being likely to reject much of the plan, the real debate will be about what's going on. we must do if and when Brussels says no, with Brexiteers pushing a "Canada plus" model.

Another minister told the BBC that even though the EU was reluctant to accept it, this week's talks were not aimed at reaching a definitive agreement, but simply at "starting a conversation "with Brussels on the future relationship can go from the front.

Up to now, negotiations have focused on the withdrawal agreement – the divorce agreement – without formal commitments on long-term arrangements. An outline of the political agreement on this agreement should be in place by October.

To hope for a real and substantial agreement by the autumn, the Prime Minister needs Brussels to take it seriously, as well as his approach. If she fails to agree tomorrow, her ability to project the authority necessary for this to happen will be seriously questioned.

But if she goes ahead with the plan, she will have to face a powerful wing and vocal feast.

Some of his colleagues could breathe a huge sigh of relief and think "about time too". But her party, and us, have no way of knowing tonight if this decision – which might lead her – is a decision she is really ready to make.