Barnier in warning over Irish border

The issue of the Irish border could still collapse Brexit talks, Michel Barnier has warned.

EU chief Brexit negotiator said there would be no withdrawal deal without a “backstop” option to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

If no better solution is found, existing agreements mean Northern Ireland would continue to follow EU rules, with critics including Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson warning that would harm the Union.

Mr Barnier said: “The UK’S decision to leave the single market and the customs union creates a risk that the hard border will return. This is why it is necessary to have a self-standing backstop solution. The backstop is needed in order to respect the integrity of the single market and the EU’S customs union.”

Mr Barnier visited the Irish border town of Dundalk on Monday, and will visit to Londonderry today.

An EU summit in June will be a “stepping stone” for the final Brexit deal in October, which is the deadline for reaching an agreement, Mr Barnier said.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has said he did not understand unionist culture.