Raab 'confident' Northern Ireland Brexit hurdles can be overcome

Dominic R aab has said he is "confident" that the Northern Ireland hurdles can be overcome to ensure the UK secures a trade deal.

The Foreign Secretary added he believed the UK Government would be able to al lay American fears and navigate the Northern Ireland issue to satisfy allies in the US following Jo e Biden's presidential election win.

It comes as Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von derL eye na greed during a phone call on Saturday to "redouble efforts" to reach a UK-EU trade deal and signed off on talks continuing next week.

D owning Street said the Prime Minister had told his Brussels counter part that there remained "significant differences" in the UK- EU negotiations, with the two sides continuing to be apart on their positions over fishing rights and a level playing field agreement.

The call follows two weeks of intensified talks between the UK' s chief negotiator Lord Frost and his European Union equivalent Michel Bar ni er ahead of further discussions between the pair in London next week.

Mr Rabbt old BBC One' s Andrew Marr Show: "We've been ver y clear we are absolutely committed to respect the Good Friday Agreement but our argument is, and it was good to have the opportunity when I was in Washington to explain, it is the EU who has put pressure on that with the approach it has taken.

"We want to resolve all those issues with the EU - obviously the negotiations are ongoing, there is a good chance of a deal if we get the flexibility from the EU on fisheries and level-playing field.

"I'm confident we will navigate all of those issues sensitively.

"If the EU shows the flexibilit y, the go o d will to meet us halfway, I am confident a deal can still be done."