No physical checks on Irish border after Brexit

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday promised Ireland’s Leo Varadkar there would be no physical checks on the border between their two countries after Brexit, a spokeswoman said.

But in their first phone call since he took office, Johnson repeated that the current “backstop” plan to keep the frontier open, which is included in the EU’s draft divorce deal, was unacceptable.

“On Brexit, the prime minister made clear that the UK will be leaving the EU on October 31, no matter what,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

“He said that in all scenarios, the government will be steadfast in its commitment to the Belfast Agreement and will never put physical checks or physical infrastructure on the border.”

The Belfast or Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland after years of violence over British control which left 3,500 people dead.

Removing checks on the border with Ireland was considered a key factor in reducing tensions. But after Brexit, that border will become part of the EU’s external frontier and should therefore be policed accordingly.

Johnson approached Brexit talks “in a spirit of friendship, and that his clear preference is to leave the EU with a deal, but it must be one that abolishes the backstop”, the spokeswoman added.

The British PM on Monday urged EU leaders to drop their opposition to renegotiating Brexit.

“The withdrawal agreement is dead,” Johnson told reporters during his first visit to Scotland as premier.

“I am confident we will get a deal but it is also right we prepare for no deal,” the Conservative leader said.

However, EU leaders have said they will not renegotiate the deal they struck with Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May.