The bilateral communiqué retains support for the UN process and calls for further detail on autonomy. London thus joins the diplomatic momentum favourable to Rabat, using its own wording.
Support for a negotiating basis should not automatically be equated with formal sovereignty recognition. Institutional substance also matters: effective division of powers, safeguards, representation, judicial oversight and how the population gives its assent. These elements allow assessment of meaningful autonomy beyond its label. The British announcement means neither Polisario acceptance nor a final agreement.