Behind the scenes, top UK and EU officials have discussed a compromise that could unblock the separation talks. Yet hardliners on both sides are preventing the negotiators from moving towards a deal. The key to the compromise is that the UK must ask for a transition, to cover the period between when it leaves the EU and when the new trading and other arrangements take effect. The EU insists any transition be “off-the-shelf” rather than bespoke – meaning that it will resemble membership, except that the UK will have no vote. It would stay in the customs union and the single market, accept rulings of the European Court ... (full story)