Boris Johnson denies plan for post-Brexit ‘customs clearance sites’ in Ireland
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Boris Johnson has denied reports his government has proposed “customs clearance sites” as a way of getting around the Irish backstop to clinch a Brexit deal.
Speaking to the BBC this morning, the Prime Minister rubbished reports which surfaced overnight as “a needless distortion.”
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Johnson’s team is expected to present the “most detailed proposals yet” later this week, according to senior government figures. It is thought something approaching legal text – which the EU has said is essential for negotiations to resume – will be submitted following the Conservative party conference.
Although he declined to go into specifics this morning, for fear it would affect negotiations, Johnson said he was confident there was “a very good way forward”.
According to Irish broadcaster RTE, the government’s latest non-paper proposals included a recommendation for “customs clearance sites” on both sides of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Those sites could be five-to-10 miles back from the border.
The non-papers were submitted by UK officials during recent discussions in Brussels.
Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney rejected the suggestion on Twitter, saying: “Non-Paper = Non-Starter.
“Time the EU had a serious proposal from the UK Govt if a #Brexit deal is to be achievable in October. NI and IRE deserves better!”
Johnson told the BBC that this response related to previous proposals, rather than current suggestions.
Keir Starmer, Labour’s shadow Brexit Secretary, slammed the proposals as “utterly unworkable”.
He added: “They would place an enormous administrative burden on businesses and rely on technology that does not yet exist.
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“Crucially, if true, they represent a rowing back on the commitments made to the people of Northern Ireland two years ago that there would be no return to a hard border or related checks or controls.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Nothing we are proposing involves checks or controls at the border.
“That is an absolute commitment.”
Main image: Getty