UK, Ireland leaders play different tunes on backstop

LONDON

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Irish opposite number Leo Varadkar remained at odds over the tricky “backstop” issue in their first phone call since Johnson took up residency on Downing Street last week.

The two premiers, who have had contradictory opinions on the future of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, are expected to discuss the thorniest issue of the Brexit impasse in the near future for a deal, which Johnson thinks still possible before the Oct. 31 deadline.

“The Taoiseach [Irish prime minister] emphasised to the prime minister that the backstop was necessary as a consequence of decisions taken in the U.K. and by the U.K. government,” a spokesman for Varadkar said after the phone call.

“Noting that the Brexit negotiations take place between the U.K. and the EU, the taoiseach explained that the EU was united in its view that the withdrawal agreement could not be reopened,” he added.

“Alternative arrangements could replace the backstop in the future, as envisaged in the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration on the future relationship, but thus far satisfactory options have yet to be identified and demonstrated.”

Johnson has argued that the backstop clause in the deal agreed by the EU and the previous Theresa May government would not be needed and a hard border can be avoided by using alternative arrangements.

The backstop article of the agreement means Northern Ireland’s alignment with the EU if a solution cannot be found to the border issue by the end of a proposed transition period.

Varadkar “restated the need for both governments to be fully committed to the Good Friday agreement, the protection of the peace process and the restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions,” according to the statement by the spokesman.

Varadkar also said during the call that the “agreement requires the sovereign government to exercise power with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in full respect for their rights, equality, parity of esteem and just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities.”

Johnson however made clear his view the U.K. would be leaving the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal and that any new agreement must be “one that abolishes the backstop”.

Varadkar also invited Johnson to Dublin for further talks on Brexit.

The U.K. is set to leave the EU without a deal if the EU does not agree to reopen the deal for further negotiations. EU leaders have repeatedly said the deal would not be renegotiated.

LONDON

The backstop article of the agreement means Northern Ireland’s alignment with the EU if a solution cannot be found to the border issue by the end of a proposed transition period.

Johnson however made clear his view the U.K. would be leaving the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal and that any new agreement must be “one that abolishes the backstop”.

Varadkar also invited Johnson to Dublin for further talks on Brexit.

The U.K. is set to leave the EU without a deal if the EU does not agree to reopen the deal for further negotiations. EU leaders have repeatedly said the deal would not be renegotiated.