PM Johnson - Irish backstop must be abolished for a Brexit deal

By Kylie MacLellan, William James

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid attend the first Cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain July 25, 2019. Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the European Union on Thursday that the Irish border backstop would have to be struck out of the Brexit divorce agreement if there was to be an orderly exit with a deal.

 

Johnson told parliament the Irish backstop, an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of a hard border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, must be abolished.

 

“It must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop,” Johnson said in his first speech as prime ministers.

 

The Irish backstop is contained in a protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement which Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, agreed to in November.

 

It is the most contentious part of the deal for British lawmakers who fear it will slice Northern Ireland off from the rest of the United Kingdom. Johnson’s government does not have a majority in parliament so rules with the help of 10 Northern Irish lawmakers from the Democratic Unionist Party, who vehemently oppose the backstop.

 

When asked about Johnson’s comment, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he looked forward to discussing the issue with Johnson. Varadkar yesterday said Johnson’s pledge of a new Brexit deal was “not in the real world”.

 

Johnson’s dramatic rise to Britain’s top job sets the world’s fifth largest economy up for a showdown with the EU and a potential constitutional crisis - or election - at home, as lawmakers have vowed to thwart a no-deal Brexit.

 

He has promised to do a new Brexit deal with the bloc in less than 99 days but has warned that if EU leaders refused - something he said was a “remote possibility” - then Britain would leave without a deal, “no ifs or buts”.

 

“Our mission is to deliver Brexit on the 31st of October for the purpose of uniting and re-energising our great United Kingdom and making this country the greatest place on earth,” Johnson told UK lawmakers.

 

Johnson’s bet is that the threat of a no-deal Brexit will persuade the EU’s biggest powers - Germany and France - to agree to revise the divorce deal that May agreed last November but failed to get ratified.

 

NEW BREXIT DEAL?

 

The EU has so far repeatedly refused to countenance rewriting the Withdrawal Agreement but has said it could change the “Political Declaration” on future ties that is part of the divorce deal.

 

If EU leaders refuse to play ball with Johnson and he moves towards a no-deal Brexit, some British lawmakers have threatened to thwart what they cast as a disastrous leap into economic chaos.

 

In those circumstances, Johnson could call an election in a bid to override lawmakers.

 

Johnson began his time in office by decisively sweeping away May’s cabinet in one of the biggest culls of senior government jobs in recent British history.

 

Earlier on Thursday the prime minister held his first full meeting of the cabinet, in which Brexiteers now dominate the senior posts.

 

“Night of the Blond Knives,” said The Sun, Britain’s most-read newspaper, a reference to the colour of Johnson’s dishevelled mop of hair and the changes to his government.

 

A total of 17 ministers in May’s government either resigned or were sacked, creating a powerful new group of enemies in parliament. Most of Johnson’s senior appointees are Brexit supporters.

 

Sajid Javid, 49, was named as his finance minister. He is a eurosceptic who voted to remain in the 2016 referendum.

 

Others are avowed Brexiteers: Priti Patel was appointed interior minister, Dominic Raab was appointed foreign minister and Stephen Barclay remained as Brexit minister.

 

Johnson also appointed Dominic Cummings, the campaign director of the official Brexit Vote Leave campaign, as a senior adviser in Downing Street.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-25

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They must be rolling around laughing their heads off in Brussels...

 

They know how ever hard he tries the common sense of the majority of MP's ain't going to allow a no deal exit.

33 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the European Union on Thursday that the Irish border backstop would have to be struck out of the Brexit divorce agreement if there was to be an orderly exit with a deal.

Nope johnson. 

 

The govt of Eire decides that. 

 

Not you or any other brit. 

It is the same trick he pulled last time with the same group of people behind him. 

 

The EU will  not negotiate so he can cast them as being unreasonable, Parliament will reject no deal so he can castigate opposition parties as being unpatriotic and not standing up for Britain. He can then  go for an election in October with a lot of flag waving yet with nothing having changed and no need for a clear plan as it will again be about the “establishment” blocking Brexit. The last thing he will want is some compromise from the EU or the support of parliament as this will allow Farage to get a foot in the door.

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

for the purpose of uniting and re-energising our great United Kingdom and making this country the greatest place on earth,” Johnson told UK lawmakers

That sounds like a little Trump copy.

 

Great words, unfortunately he does not reveal how he wants to do that.

 

No plan and only hot air.

Heartfelt condolences to the UK for such a foam bat.

Who cares what he wants. The EU for sure not. He can leave tomorrow without any contract. No problem. Then he can start to tell his wishes to the EU and Ireland. It´s sooooo easy.

Good, at last, to have a PM who backs Britain. He will do a good job. The likes of the treacherous Grieve, Duncan and others will be deselected by their constituents in due course, clearing the way for a big pro-brexit win in a general election.

Reuters not mentioned or "strategically forgotten" to mention that Boris has appointed his brother to minister of industry (I think it was).

this is the same as dictators in Banana Republics do and what Trump did, to appoint your family in important jobs !

 

Soon Great-Brittain will go the same way and deteriorate in the international scene as the States have already done and most likely the name Brittain will be better suited as well.

8 minutes ago, ardsong said:

Reuters not mentioned or "strategically forgotten" to mention that Boris has appointed his brother to minister of industry (I think it was).

this is the same as dictators in Banana Republics do and what Trump did, to appoint your family in important jobs !

 

Soon Great-Brittain will go the same way and deteriorate in the international scene as the States have already done and most likely the name Brittain will be better suited as well.

I thinl the more salient point being that Jo Johnson resigned from the previous government citing the need for a confirmatory peoples vote

This is all a farce. The whole thing is based on the Conservative Party becoming the party of Brexit and therefore taking the Brexit Party votes when a general election is called in November.

 

All this fuss over an imaginary line in the middle of a few fields. 

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop,” Johnson said in his first speech as prime ministers.

I think this wannabe leader lost his mind totally. There is a deal already. Take it or leave it. With this clown UK lost the rest of credibility and reputation. 

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Johnson told parliament the Irish backstop, an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of a hard border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, must be abolished.

That's an easy solution, stop all of the non sense and just stay in the EU.... no back stop of any kind will be required... problem solved, next

15 hours ago, Orac said:

It is the same trick he pulled last time with the same group of people behind him. 

 

The EU will  not negotiate so he can cast them as being unreasonable, Parliament will reject no deal so he can castigate opposition parties as being unpatriotic and not standing up for Britain. He can then  go for an election in October with a lot of flag waving yet with nothing having changed and no need for a clear plan as it will again be about the “establishment” blocking Brexit. The last thing he will want is some compromise from the EU or the support of parliament as this will allow Farage to get a foot in the door.

 and he can go out and scream claim '''' it's not me,  it's them "" they took my toys away

15 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

That sounds like a little Trump copy.

 

Great words, unfortunately he does not reveal how he wants to do that.

 

No plan and only hot air.

Heartfelt condolences to the UK for such a foam bat.

maybe he's trying copying Trump and sho(u)ot in all directions without proper plan...hot air balloon type of guy, all words and no actions

17 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Nope johnson. 

 

The govt of Eire decides that. 

 

Not you or any other brit. 

 

That's simply not true.

 

There will be no deal between the UK and Eire. The deal will be between the UK and EU. Eire cannot unilaterally decide to remove the backstop. Any of the 27 other member EU states can veto the deal. But not one can singularly change it.

1 hour ago, ardsong said:

Reuters not mentioned or "strategically forgotten" to mention that Boris has appointed his brother to minister of industry (I think it was).

this is the same as dictators in Banana Republics do and what Trump did, to appoint your family in important jobs !

 

Soon Great-Brittain will go the same way and deteriorate in the international scene as the States have already done and most likely the name Brittain will be better suited as well.

1) Such an expert on Great Britain that he cannot even spell it.

2) There is no such political entity as Great Britain, we are the United Kingdom.

Atta boy Bojo. You tell ‘em. There’s a new sherif in town who won’t kowtow to the EU.


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27 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

That's simply not true.

 

There will be no deal between the UK and Eire. The deal will be between the UK and EU. Eire cannot unilaterally decide to remove the backstop. Any of the 27 other member EU states can veto the deal. But not one can singularly change it.

I was not suggesting Eire will remove the backstop. 

 

My point is that Eire can block any deal that doesn’t address it’s concerns. 

 

That gives them the power to ensure its needs are met. 

 

So, no, I am not incorrect. 

15 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

Who cares what he wants. The EU for sure not. He can leave tomorrow without any contract. No problem. Then he can start to tell his wishes to the EU and Ireland. It´s sooooo easy.

Fine words butter no parsnips, if you think a no deal won't be a problem for the EU, I would think again.

8 minutes ago, vogie said:

Fine words butter no parsnips, if you think a no deal won't be a problem for the EU, I would think again.

Remind me, what's Johnson's majority?

 

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Remind me, what's Johnson's majority?

 

Lets put it this way, it is law we leave on the 31st of October, when Sir Nicholas Soames was being interviewed by Adam Boulton from Sky news Soames stated that parliament would stop a no deal and Adam Boulton asked him how, to which he replied "I don't know." So don't jump the gun and pretend we all know whats going to happen, we don't. Remainers are quite unique in reading the future, leavers tend to be more pragmatic.

27 minutes ago, vogie said:

Lets put it this way, it is law we leave on the 31st of October, when Sir Nicholas Soames was being interviewed by Adam Boulton from Sky news Soames stated that parliament would stop a no deal and Adam Boulton asked him how, to which he replied "I don't know." So don't jump the gun and pretend we all know whats going to happen, we don't. Remainers are quite unique in reading the future, leavers tend to be more pragmatic.

A bit like the end of last March then. 

Given that the Republic of Ireland exports something like 50% to the UK and a significant percentage via the UK, and has a population smaller than Scotland's, it's not that hard to guess who's got the most to lose on this issue - https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/07/varadkars-backstop-gamble-could-cost-ireland-dearly/

1 hour ago, sawadee1947 said:

I think this wannabe leader lost his mind totally. There is a deal already. Take it or leave it. With this clown UK lost the rest of credibility and reputation. 

I am looking forward to a no deal and seeing just how easy it will be for the Irish. Will they put a hard border up, no. Will the country go in recession. not as bad as the potato famine but people will feel it for sure. It is even predicted that t will cause a recession across Europe and to the Euro. All because Leo likes to take orders from the EU. He is not on his own though. One of the reasons the UK is leaving.

29 minutes ago, vogie said:

Lets put it this way, it is law we leave on the 31st of October, when Sir Nicholas Soames was being interviewed by Adam Boulton from Sky news Soames stated that parliament would stop a no deal and Adam Boulton asked him how, to which he replied "I don't know." So don't jump the gun and pretend we all know whats going to happen, we don't. Remainers are quite unique in reading the future, leavers tend to be more pragmatic.

The Mogg also found himself having to spell this out in the house yesterday to Angela Eagle.

 

37 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A bit like the end of last March then. 

Boris has an eye on the Tilbrook case & surely realises all he need do is offer no resistance...

1 hour ago, vogie said:

Lets put it this way, it is law we leave on the 31st of October, when Sir Nicholas Soames was being interviewed by Adam Boulton from Sky news Soames stated that parliament would stop a no deal and Adam Boulton asked him how, to which he replied "I don't know." So don't jump the gun and pretend we all know whats going to happen, we don't. Remainers are quite unique in reading the future, leavers tend to be more pragmatic.

It’s law that the U.K. leaves on October 31st?

 

Which law would that be?

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

It’s law that the U.K. leaves on October 31st?

 

Which law would that be?

I'm sure J R Mogg will be able to explain it to you far better than I.

55 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Boris has an eye on the Tilbrook case & surely realises all he need do is offer no resistance...

You seem not to understand the separation between the Government and the Courts or that the Tilbrook case was tossed out on the basis of having ''No merit".

 

https://endthechaos.co.uk/blog/the-tilbrook-case-is-about-polemical-and-not-legal-argument/