Steve and Chris record a pilot of their new podcast, CakeWatch. Issues covered: Nadine Dorries and misogyny; a weaponised civil service; Customs Union cakeism; the BBC; and #lieoftheweek coffee protectionism.

Chequers Cake, Red Velvet Cake, international cake(ism), and a draft Withdrawal Agreement

The wheels on the bus are coming off, coming off, coming off. Customs Union, Lie of the Week on the Swiss Border, and a thrilling new occasional segment. Brought to you by Milton Keynes European Movement's Day of Action 9 May 2018!

Senior Norwegian politicians and businesses figures have rejected Norway-plus, the increasingly touted British cross-party plan for the UK to leave the EU but join Norway in a free trade trade area inside the EU single market. They attacked the idea as “neither in Norway nor the UK’s interest”. The UK would need Norway’s permission to join its Efta club.

EU Law expert Professor Michael Dougan has analysed Theresa May's Brexit speech.

The sole economic modelling exercise showing material benefits for the UK from Brexit has been debunked as “doubly misleading”, further demolishing the argument that for Britain “no deal would be better than a bad deal” when it comes to the EU.

The UK Trade Policy Observatory said even a new customs deal would inevitably lead to considerable disruption relative to the current frictionless cross-border goods trade with the EU

Treasury committee says confidence in preparations has collapsed amid customs chiefs’ doubts that IT system will be ready. There will be a fivefold increase in customs checks at Dover and other UK ports after Brexit, an influential group of MPs has found.

Gisela Stuart on why she believes exiting the Single Market and Customs Union is the Brexit the UK voted for in 2016. / Liesbeth Kooijman, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture on how much time Brexit could add to foodstuffs travelling from Europe to UK shops in the event of Brexit. / Roel Van't Veld, Dutch Customs Authority on the added burden leaving the Customs Union will have for the UK and Europe.

On @SkyNews yesterday: Single Market and Customs Union is what virtually every sector, organisation, university, NGO, hospital, trade union says they need.

1. The Withdrawal Agreement (WA) is not up for renegotiation / 2. The Political Declaration (PD) might be tweaked cosmetically / 3. The future relationship will be negotiated during the transition period / 4. There will be no transition without the WA 5. / The will be no WA without the Financial Settlement / 6. A backstop cannot be unilaterally ended or it is not a backstop ...

CBI appeals to Tory MPs to shift position to avoid a no-deal Brexit, or risk further harm to the economy.

Pascal Lamy likens customs union to second division and WTO terms to fourth division.

Sir Ivan Rogers said extending Article 50 is "not a given" and extreme Leavers and Remainers were pushing UK to cliff edge.

Deputy Frans Timmermans accuses Tory Brexiters of a ‘cavalier’ approach to peace. / Jean-Claude Juncker has told Theresa May in a private phone call that shifting her red lines in favour of a permanent customs union is the price she will need to pay for the EU revising the Irish backstop.

Evan Davis interviews Sandro Gozi, Italy's undersecretary for European affairs about Theresa May's vision for Brexit.

Preparations begin amid belief beleaguered prime minister will be forced to offer Labour the potentially crucial compromise.

Theresa May faces a fresh headache over her Brexit strategy after peers inflicted a defeat on the government in favour of keeping the UK in a customs union with the EU.

Michel Barnier makes final offer on Irish border that falls short of Theresa May's demands.

This evening, Michel Barnier said the EU was ready to offer Britain a unilateral exit from the customs union while maintaining the other elements of the backstop.

Another day, another ‘no breakthrough on the backstop‘ story. At the eleventh hour, a dose of reality seems to be setting in over the question of the Northern Ireland Brexit backstop.