About: Irish backstop
Brexit deal within reach in last-ditch talks, but doubts remain
Britain and the EU made headway on Tuesday (15 October) in last-ditch talks on a Brexit deal ahead of a leaders' summit, but with just hours left to clinch an agreement it was still unclear if London could avoid postponing its scheduled departure on 31 October.
New Brexit hopes after Johnson and Varadkar say ‘pathway to deal’ exists
Hopes of a Brexit deal were dramatically revived on Thursday (10 October) following three hours of talks between Boris Johnson and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Britain’s Brexit talks with EU on verge of collapse
Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union teetered on the brink of collapse on Tuesday (8 October), with tit-for-tat claims of intransigence and sabotage before an end of October deadline.
EU says Britain needs new plan as Brexit clock runs out
European officials warned Monday (6 October) that Britain's latest Brexit proposal cannot serve as a basis for a breakthrough before next week's Brussels summit.
‘We are European’, says Johnson as he softens tone on Brexit plans
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck a conciliatory tone towards the EU on Wednesday (2 October) as he set out his government’s new alternative to the Irish backstop.
Ireland dismisses reported UK Brexit border proposal
Britain is proposing to set up "customs clearance centres" on both sides of the Irish border after Brexit, Irish national broadcaster RTE reported on Monday (30 September), an idea Ireland's foreign minister quickly dismissed as a "non-starter".
No Brexit breakthrough as Tusk, Johnson meet in New York
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated a call for "flexibility" from the EU in Brexit talks during a meeting with Council President Donald Tusk in New York Monday (23 September) that failed to yield a breakthrough.
Northern Ireland’s DUP calls for Brexit ‘refit’ of Good Friday Agreement
Northern Ireland's largest party, the Democratic Unionist Party, on Wednesday called for a "refit" of the British province's 1998 peace accord "to take account of any new Brexit deal."
Irish backstop must be part of Brexit deal, says EU Parliament chief
There will be no Brexit deal without an Irish backstop, European Parliament President David Sassoli said on Thursday (12 September). However, the EU is willing to revive a proposal that would keep only Northern Ireland in the bloc’s orbit to...
‘Donnez-moi un break’: Johnson says he seeks Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted Tuesday (10 September) he was working hard to strike a divorce deal with the European Union, after he suspended parliament following a series of bruising clashes with MPs over his Brexit plan.
Johnson tells parliament: You can tie my hands, but I will not delay Brexit
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday (10 September) he would not request an extension to Brexit, hours after a law came into force demanding that he delay Britain's departure from the European Union until 2020 unless he can strike a divorce deal.
Johnson mulls snap election as MPs seek to block no-deal Brexit
Boris Johnson is moving closer to calling a snap election this week, if UK lawmakers adopt legislation aimed at preventing a No Deal Brexit.
Boris Johnson starts the long Brexit campaign
August is typically the month when Westminster goes silent and lawmakers go on holiday, leaving reporters to fall back on stories about the holiday plans of the royal family. This summer, with the Brexit date approaching fast, has been much more hectic.
Macron gives Johnson one month to produce Irish backstop alternatives
French President Emmanuel Macron put the ball squarely in Boris Johnson’s court on Thursday (22 August), urging the UK Prime Minister to present detailed proposals to re-write the Irish backstop and avoid the UK crashing out of the bloc without a deal after 31 October.
Johnson to hold Brexit talks with Macron after Merkel offers glimmer of hope
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Paris on Thursday (22 August), a day after Berlin offered a glimmer of hope that an agreement could be reached to avoid a chaotic "no deal" Brexit.
EU’s Tusk rejects Johnson’s plea to scrap Irish backstop
European Council President Donald Tusk has rejected Boris Johnson’s pleas to scrap the Irish backstop and instead offered veiled criticism of the UK prime minister for not presenting “realistic alternatives”.
Johnson tells EU he wants Brexit deal but without Irish backstop
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote Monday (19 August) to European Council President Donald Tusk reaffirming his desire to conclude a Brexit deal as well as his opposition to the controversial "backstop" on Ireland.
Johnson purges the no deal non-believers
Having promised to deliver Brexit on October 31 ‘do or die’, Boris Johnson's cabinet have all signed up to his plan to take the UK out of the EU on ‘no deal’ terms if necessary.
Boris Johnson says trade deal can break Brexit deadlock
Boris Johnson, favored to become Britain’s new prime minister, said on Sunday (21 July) the country could agree a free trade deal to leave the EU that would remove the need for one of the more problematic parts of a previous agreement.
Boost Irish backstop with new protocol, says Tory-backed group
The controversial Irish border backstop should not be scrapped but instead bolstered by a protocol, according to a report published on Thursday (18 July) by an influential group of Conservative politicians.
UK keep faith on scrapping Irish backstop but supporters stumped on costs
The UK continues to entertain the prospect of replacing the Irish backstop with technological alternatives, but one of its leading proponents admitted to MPs on Wednesday (26 June) that he could not provide a precise estimate on the cost of these alternatives.
Johnson takes step towards Downing Street, tops leadership ballot
Boris Johnson moved a step closer to becoming the next UK prime minister on Thursday, after topping the first ballot of Conservative MPs who are seeking a successor for Theresa May.
May government rules out Brexit vote before local polls
Theresa May is likely to make one last attempt to pass her Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in a bid to avoid having to hold European elections next month, but not before UK local elections on Thursday (2 May).