...but EU dismisses PM’s plans already

BRUSSELS last night moved to rubbish Boris Johnson’s Brexit proposals before they have even got off the ground.

In what will be seen in Westminster as a hostile act, EU officials leaked a withering assessment of new British proposals to replace the controversial Irish backstop.

UK sources last night dismissed the assessment. But the decision to leak the document, which was circulated to ambassadors from the other 27 EU countries, will be seen as an attempt by European Commission hardliners to undermine talks which have been gathering momentum.

The EU memo dismissed the UK’s latest proposals, saying they did not provide a ‘legally operational’ alternative.

It said the UK ‘confirmed that the proposed concepts do not amount to legally operational solutions and would have to be developed during the transition period’.

The document went on: ‘The UK team further added that they would have to establish a regulatory and customs border on the island of Ireland.’

Government sources last night insisted further proposals would be published next month. But sources conceded that they were unlikely to be tackle every remaining issue in the time left – and a deal would depend on the EU’s willingness to resolve remaining problems in the Brexit transition period which ends in December 2020. In the wake of the leak, a UK Government source said: ‘The ideas we’ve put forward to avoid a hard border are serious and workable.

‘They build on existing systems for customs and facilitations, and there is a big offer on an all-island solution to agriculture based on Northern Ireland giving consent. Taken together, they would avoid a hard border. As for the Commission, two months ago they said we couldn’t reopen the Withdrawal Agreement and there was absolutely no alternative to the backstop. Now we are having detailed discussions.

‘Leaks from Brussels on Twitter are par for the course. You can set your watch by them. What we’re focused on is actually getting a deal in the room. We trust they’ll do the same.’ Mr Johnson is to hold Brexit talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron in New York next week as he steps up efforts to find a breakthrough.

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister has brought forward his trip to the UN General Assembly in order to pack in meetings with EU leaders. He is likely to hold a mini Brexit summit with the German Chancellor and French President on Monday.