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Boris Johnson refuses to rule out Northern Ireland staying in EU customs union

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Boris Johnson refuses to rule out Northern Ireland staying in EU customs union

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Boris Johnson has refused to rule out Northern Ireland remaining in the EU’s customs union as negotiations with Brussels intensify.

Earlier today EU chief negotiator Michael Barnier confirmed that the UK and EU were entering ‘tunnel negotiations’ – meaning an intense period of discussion.

It came among rumours that Mr Johnson was shifting his offer to Brussels, potentially abandoning opposition to a Northern Irish backstop arrangement that would keep it in the EU for customs purposes

If true this would mean the border between Britain and EU would be in the Irish Sea – a solution long opposed by Unionists in Ireland like the DUP and many Brexiteer Tories.

But in order to secure any shift which would see Northern Ireland outside UK’s customs regime Mr Johnson would need to win a showdown vote in Parliament – against some of his most ardent supporters.

A customs union is a group of countries which abolish import tariffs and quotas on goods traded amongst them.

Members of the union commit to observe a common external tariff, so that goods coming from outside the area pay the same duties, regardless of where they enter the bloc.

Mr Johnson said he wouldn’t comment while negotiations were ongoing

Speaking during a school visit this afternoon, Mr Johnson twice refused to rule out reports of the shift – which is similar to proposals previously made by Theresa May .

The PM said: “Where Leo Varadkar and I got to yesterday was a joint feeling that there is a way forward, and we can see a pathway to a deal.

“That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. So there’s work to be done.”

“I think it would be wrong of me to give a running commentary on the negotiations,” he added.

“With the greatest possible respect I think, look at everything I’ve said previously.

“I think you can draw your own conclusions from that. But let’s our negotiators get on.”

Mr Barnier announced the tunnel negotiations would begin this afternoon

“I can certainly tell you that under no circumstances will we see anything that damages the ability of the whole of the United Kingdom to take full advantage of Brexit, and I think that’s what people would expect, and that’s what I think we can achieve.”

Europe’s chief negotiator has been given the go-ahead by ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states to enter the final stage – known as ‘tunnel negotiations’ – with the UK to strike a Brexit deal.

After a meeting with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, Mr Barnier briefed representatives of the EU member states who gave the green light for negotiations to be stepped up.

“It’s a tunnel with a very small light at the end of it,” one of the diplomats said, indicating there was not too much hope on the EU side that a divorce deal could be sealed before Britain is due to leave the EU on Oct. 31.

But it represents a major breakthrough in the negotiations – which just a few days ago were floundering, leading Downing St sources to brief that a deal was “impossible”.

The announcement came after earliier this morning Mr Barnier met with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, in what the UK described as “a constructive meeting”.


Mr Barnier added that “Brexit is like climbing a big mountain, we need vigilance, determination and patience”.

Despite the breakthrough just a few hours earlier European Council President Donald Tusk said Britain’s offer still isn’t workable but that there were “promising signals” that parties could secure a deal – after the Irish PM threw Boris Johnson’s government a lifeline in private talks yesterday.

Mr Tusk said he had received a positive message from Leo Varadkar that a deal was “still possible” after the meeting yesterday.

In a tweet he said: “The UK has still not come forward with a workable, realistic proposal.

“But I have received promising signals from Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar that a deal is possible

“Even the slightest chance must be used. A no deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU.”

Yesterday, the Irish PM and Mr Johnson declared they could “see a pathway” to a possible agreement.

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