Boris Johnson’s Brexit hardline panics EU chiefs as they mull plans for new divorce deal
BORIS Johnson’s new Brexit hardline sent jitters through Brussels as panicked Eurocrats mulled plans for a new divorce deal offer.
The Tory favourite vowed in The Sun’s leadership debate to axe the Irish backstop from any EU agreement.
Sources said a significant concession on the £39billion bill is being looked at to seal a pre-October 31 agreement.
A senior Eurosceptic said: “I’m convinced the EU will do a deal and this shows just that. If we’re clear we’re leaving, the EU will budge.”
A new divorce deal may allow a future PM to delay paying the full £39billion until a free trade agreement with the EU is thrashed out.
That would be a huge boost for Boris – who has said the UK should withhold part until the EU completes a trade deal.
The backstop was included in Theresa May’s doomed Brexit deal as an insurance plan to avoid the return of a hard border in Ireland.
It would keep Britain in the customs union until a new trading relationship is mapped out.
In Monday night’s debate Boris told Sun readers: “It needs to come out.”
Labour MP, Sarah Champion, also said she is prepared to back a No Deal Brexit. She insisted Labour must deliver on the referendum’s result.
Sources claimed up to 20 Labour MPs would vote in a similar way.
Fears of a No Deal sent the pound tumbling threatening dearer holidays for Brits heading abroad. It briefly dipped below $1.24 against the US dollar for the first time since March 2017.
Markets were also spooked by reports that Boris Johnson could suspend Parliament for two weeks later this October to force through a No Deal Brexit.
Allies close to the frontrunner poured cold water on the claims.
But Tory ‘Remainer’ Dominic Grieve accused Boris of further “radicalising” on Brexit.
Migrants vow row
JEREMY Hunt has accused Boris of making a U-turn on cutting immigration.
He blasted Mr Johnson after he declined to say whether numbers of new arrivals would come down after Brexit.
BoJo told The Sun’s leadership debate on Monday night: “What I want to see with immigration is control.
“I’m not going to get into some numbers game.”
But he had promised numbers would fall during the EU referendum campaign in 2016, and again during the 2017 general election campaign.
Leadership rival Mr Hunt accused the frontrunner of a betrayal of the Brexit vote.
Hunt-supporting Tory David Morris added: “A promise is a promise and he needs to take responsibility for the commitments he has made.”
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