Boris Johnson ‘confident’ EU WILL compromise on hated backstop and give us a deal ahead of crunch Brexit summit with Merkel and Macron

BORIS Johnson is “confident” Brussels WILL compromise on the hated Northern Irish backstop and give us a deal - ahead of talks with EU leaders this week.

The PM believes Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel will cave and broker a new Brexit deal as he prepares to jet off to Paris for crucial talks in days.

This is despite Brussels chiefs saying repeatedly they will not reopen talks over a fresh deal.

Speaking during a visit to a hospital in Cornwall today, Boris told Sky News: "We will be ready to come out on Oct. 31 - deal or no deal.

“Of course, our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel are showing a little bit of reluctance to change their position - that's fine - I am confident that they will."

"I hope that they will compromise - they have seen that the UK parliament has three times rejected the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop just doesn't work, it is not democratic. I hope they will see fit to compromise."

EU WILL CAVE

The PM has stated that we will be leaving the bloc “do or die” by the Halloween deadline and has won the backing of Brexiteers for his tough stance against Brussels – refusing to meet any EU leaders in person until now.

However, Boris has also said that brokering a trade deal with the EU is a top priority.

Of course, our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel are showing a little bit of reluctance to change their position - that's fine - I am confident that they will.

Boris Johnson

He said today: “I want a deal, we are ready to work with our friends and partners to get a deal but if you want a good deal for the UK you must simultaneously get ready to come out without one.”

BoJo’s comments come as 40 Tory rebels plot with arch-Remainers Philip Hammond and David Gauke in a bid to stop a No Deal Brexit.

The desperate former chancellor and ex Justice Secretary have recruited an extra 19 senior Conservative MPs after writing a furious letter to Boris Johnson last week.

Hammond said the PM’s plans to abolish the backstop "set the bar so high that there is no realistic probability of a deal being done".

The size of the rebel group – known as the 'Gauke-ward Squad' – could now heap pressure on Boris who has told Brussels Britain will be leaving no matter what at the end of October.

Last week, 21 senior Tories revealed they were concerned about a No Deal Brexit.

Former Cabinet ministers David Lidington, Greg Clark and Rory Stewart were among the group who wrote to Johnson explaining they were “alarmed” by the PM’s Brexit demands.

There are reportedly 10 more MPs set to back the group.

A source said: “It should not come as any surprise that Number 10 is trying to pick people off that group on the basis that the strategy is not to go to no-deal. There are lots of back channel conversations."

Boris is said to have blasted Hammond for "gravely damaging" the national interest with his bids to frustrate Brexit.

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