Now have 3 confirmations on this story.
— Nick๐ฌ๐ง๐ช๐บ๐บ๐ฆ (@nicktolhurst) October 18, 2019
ERG are getting assurances from AG Geoffrey Cox that Britain (without N Ireland) can crash out of transition phase December 2020 in no deal as was planned this year.
Johnson Brexit deal is thus an attempt to force a later no deal.