WE CAN MERK IT OUT
Huge Brexit boost for Boris Johnson as Angela Merkel says new Irish backstop plan could be done in the next 30 DAYS
BORIS Johnson got a huge Brexit boost from Angela Merkel as she suggested it was possible to get a new Irish border solution in the next 30 days.
The PM's first overseas trip got off to a flying start as the German Chancellor gave him a deadline to come up with fresh ideas to replace the controversial backstop.
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Mrs Merkel rolled the red carpet out for Boris Johnson tonight as the new PM made his debut on the world stage.
Her conciliatory tone was in marked contrast to the brutal reception given to the PM’s bid to restart negotiations from EU chief Donald Tusk and other European figures.
In a joint press conference this evening Mrs Merkel opened the door to a possible agreement and set Mr Johnson a deadline of less than a month to come up with a possible solution.
She told him: "The backstop has always been a fallback position. If one is able to solve this conundrum, if one finds the solution, we can probably find it over the next two years...but maybe we can find it in the next 30 days to come.
"So then we are one step further in the right direction. We have to put our all into it.";
As Boris faced his first official test as PM tonight:
- Boris told the German Chancellor to her face the UK can't accept the backstop and it has to go
- He promised to get back to her soon on possible solutions for the Irish border
- Boris sided with Mrs Merkel on re-admitting President Putin's Russia back into the G7 - in direct opposition to President Trump
- Meanwhile France's Macron told Boris the UK had to cough up the full divorce bill - even if we leave without a deal
A delighted Boris said he had an "amazing welcome" in Berlin and lavished praise on Mrs Merkel.
He said he was "more than happy" with her offer of finding an alternative to the backstop in less than 30 days which he described as a "blistering timetable".
He accepted the "onus" was on the UK, but said he believed there was "ample scope" for a new deal to be reached.
Eschewing fears about the ultra-tight deadline, Boris added: “It is in the final furlong generally when the horses change places and the winning deal appears.”
NO TIME LIMIT
The prime minister has insisted he wants the UK to leave the EU with a renegotiated withdrawal deal, but the UK must leave on 31 October "do or die".
But he told Mrs Merkel the backstop – that keeps the UK aligned to EU rules indefinitely - must go.
He said: "We cannot accept the current withdrawal agreement, arrangements that either divide the UK or lock us into the regulatory trading without the UK having any say.
"We do need that backstop removed. If we can do that, I am certain we can move forward together.
"Of course, I think there is ample scope to do a deal.
"I think that if we approach this with sufficient patience and optimism, we can get this done."
The meeting was Boris's first major test since he came into No10 last month.
What is the Brexit backstop and what would it mean for the Irish border?
The backstop plan is essentially a safety net if there is no Brexit trade deal.
It would avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Also, it would ensure that no "tariffs, quotas, rules of origin or customs processes" would be applied to UK-EU trade - keeping Britain in a single customs territory with the EU.
This would also leave Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods - meaning good crossing the border would not be subject to checks for customs or product standards.
But it is unclear if the UK would be able to strike free trade agreements with other countries while the backstop endured.
And it is feared the UK would end up being trapped in the customs union for years, preventing the country from being able to strike its own trade deals on goods with countries outside the EU.
The pair shook hands outside the Chancellery as he arrived in sunny Berlin this evening.
He walked up the red carpet and was greeted by the smiling German Chancellor.
The pair then sat down as the British and German national anthems were played.
In a bid to buy the PM more time, No10 tried to push back hard on the suggestion of a 30 day deadline , insisting Mrs Merkel never set one.
Elsewhere Mr Johnson told Mrs Merkel he backed her position not to re-admit President Putin back into the G7 - in direct opposition to President Trump.
He said: "I’m in very much with Chancellor Merkel that the case is yet to made out with Russia coming back to the G7.
“That’s an area where the UK and Germany has a common position.”
Boris 'no' to Don G7 Russia bid
BORIS Johnson last night joined other EU leaders to slap down Donald Trump’s bid to allow Russia back into the G7.
The G7 is a collective of countries with the world’s most advanced economies.
Russia was kicked out of the old G8 format after its 2014 invasion of Crimea.
The Kremlin has since been accused of orchestrating murders of opponents across Europe and trying to manipulate elections.
The PM cited the Novichok attack in Salisbury, Wilts, in March last year.
Mr Johnson said in Berlin: “I am very much with Chancellor Merkel in thinking that the case has yet to be made out for Russia to return to the G7.”
This year’s G7 summit is in France this weekend.
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The Sun says
IS THAT a chink of light we can see in negotiations with the EU?
Angela Merkel’s given Boris 30 days to come up with a workable border solution.
Since everything else we’ve offered has been knocked back almost immediately, this counts as some kind of progress.
Merkel and Emmanuel Macron are vital to finding a way out of the Brexit impasse. If they choose to compromise, the rest of the EU — even Ireland — will almost certainly fall in line.
Things can still go wrong. Macron’s aides are already mouthing off about us paying a divorce bill even if we leave without a deal. As far as we’re concerned, they can go whistle.
Boris has an opportunity. Let’s hope the rebels in his party don’t ruin it.
Boris Johnson tells German Chancellor Angela Merkel he 'can't accept' the current Brexit deal
MOST READ IN POLITICS
But after he was given a ray of hope for a new Brexit deal in Germany, France's president made it clear his reception there would be far colder.
A no-deal Brexit would be Britain’s fault not the EU’s, Mr Macron said, adding: “Renegotiation of the terms currently proposed by the British is not an option that exists, and that has always been made clear by President Tusk”.
Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was bleaker in his assessment, saying he sees little chance for fresh talks working.
Mr Steinmeier said “all options that can now be proposed have basically already been the subject of talks”, adding that Mr Johnson’s new bid was “possibly more about attributing blame”.
Ireland’s leaders also kept up their assault on Boris.
Deputy premier Simon Coveney accused him of trying to “steam roll” Ireland as he suggested he cannot trust the Prime Minister.
A no-deal Brexit is now “far more likely”, he added.
Ireland’s EU commissioner Phil Hogan also issued a stinging attack to brand Boris an “unelected” PM who is gambling with the peace process.
Mr Hogan added: “Prime Minister Johnson’s hero is Winston Churchill and he seems to view himself as a modern day Churchill.
“However, in the event of a No Deal Brexit, the UK government’s only Churchillian legacy will be ‘never have so few done so much damage to so many’.”
On the menu for Boris and Angela
Starter: Tuna tartare
Main: Venison from Brandenburg
Dessert: Chocolate tart
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Angela Merkel says 'EU is ready to find a solution' but there is no need to 're-open the Withdrawal Agreement'
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