PM shrugs off Trump’s gloom about Brexit deal
BORIS Johnson has said he is “optimistic” about securing a Brexit deal, despite Donald Trump’s doubts.
On the final day of the G7 Summit in France, the US President warned that the EU were “tough” negotiators and forecast the Prime Minister “may not make a deal” even though he was shaping up to be “great” at his job.
But Mr Johnson vowed to “work hard” to “make his case” and he dismissed a demand from the EU to pay the £39billion Brexit divorce fee, even with a no-deal. NEW laws to stop companies exploiting an open Irish border after Brexit should be introduced so the backstop can be ditched, a former top British Eurocrat has said.
Sir Jonathan Faull, who was the UK’s most senior official at the European Commission, said British and EU legal systems should be used to punish any firms that try to dodge customs duties or fail to meet regulations.
Spot checks would be carried out away from the border, allowing it to remain open.
The measures would mean the UK could leave the customs union but would meet EU demands for the single market to be protected. Sir Jonathan said severe penalties would act as a deterrent to firms who wanted to exploit an open border.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The idea is both sides in Ireland should rely on each other’s legal system and co-operate to make sure that when the UK leaves the EU the Irish border remains open, which is what everybody says they want.”
Sir Jonathan pointed out the Irish border already divides twoVAT jurisdictions and the differences require co-operation.