Johnson vows to ‘reboot’ politics
BORIS JOHNSON vowed to “reboot” the UK’s politics as he set out his offer to Brussels for a Brexit compromise.
The Prime Minister said he had put forward “constructive and reasonable proposals” to resolve the Brexit deadlock.
But he warned Brussels that the UK was ready to leave without a deal on October 31 if the European Union refused to work with him on reaching an agreement.
In his keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference Mr Johnson insisted his plan to replace the Irish backstop would “in no circumstances” result in checks at or near the border in Northern Ireland.
Mr Johnson said: “Today in Brussels we are tabling what I believe are constructive and reasonable proposals which provide a compromise for both sides.”
The plan involves a “two borders for four years” measure that will leave Northern Ireland in a relationship with Europe until 2025.
It accepts the need for both a regulatory border between Britain and Northern Ireland in the Irish Sea for four years and customs checks between the North and the Irish Republic.
The plans would “respect the peace process and the Good Friday agreement”, Mr Johnson said.
“And by a process of renewable democratic consent by the executive and assembly of Northern Ireland we will go further and protect the existing regulatory arrangements for farmers and other businesses on both sides of the border. At the same time we will allow the UK – whole and entire – to withdraw from the EU, with control of our own trade policy from the start.”
Mr Johnson acknowledged the plan represented a “compromise by the UK”.
“I hope very much that our friends understand that and compromise in their turn,” he told the Manchester conference. “Because if we fail to get an agreement because of what is essentially a technical discussion of the exact nature of future customs checks, when that technology is improving the whole time, then let us be in no doubt that the alternative is no deal.”
However, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said while there had been some “positive advances”, there remained “problematic points”, particularly over the “governance of the backstop” which needed to be resolved.
In a statement, the commission said that Mr Juncker welcomed the proposals for “full regulatory alignment” between Northern Ireland and the EU.
“However, the president also noted that there are still some problematic points that will need further work in the coming days, notably with regards to the governance of the backstop,” the statement said.
“The delicate balance struck by the Good Friday agreement must be preserved.”