By James Simons-
Boris Johnson is expected to make an offer of ‘very constructive and far-reaching proposals’ for replacing backstop.
The prime minister said during a key interview with the BBC that the UK will put forward some “very constructive and far-reaching proposals” to the EU for an alternative to the backstop.
Johnson said new customs checks on the island of Ireland, away from the border would be necessary. He said:
”If the EU is going to insist on customs checks as we come out as it is, then we will have to accept that reality. And there will have to be a system for customs checks away from the border.
Now, we think those checks can be absolutely minimal and non-intrusive and won’t involve new infrastructure.
(The EU would say that it is the UK creating the need for customs checks, by leaving the customs union.)
Johnson added that it was preferable to have customs checks on north/south trade (ie between Northern Ireland and Ireland) than on east/west trade (ie, between Northern Ireland and Great Britain).
He explained:
”Just to set this in context for you, it’s important to understand that trade north/south of the border is dwarfed by trade east/west, ie from Northern Ireland to GB. So it would be wrong to, as it were, to keep Northern Ireland in a customs union with the EU and to create new checks down the Irish Sea for customs”.
ALLEGATIONS
Johnson was today being forced to answer past allegations of him groping a journalist’s thigh, a rumour not great for his political image, but which comes without any evidence. Johnson and his team view the allegation as a form of distraction and revenge because of his Brexit stance. They believe it is a tactic to frustrate his determined EU agenda to get the Uk out of the bloc by October 31st.
Anti Brexitiers see Johnson’s plans as chaotic for the economy, leading to long queues at various checkpoints that link the Uk with EU countries. The prime minister’s proposals to achieve an EU deal should be the real talking point. If his proposals work can work in theory, the Uk will be close to its long awaited deal with the EU.