EU boss Michel Barnier rejects Boris Johnson’s demands to ditch hated Brexit backstop
EU BOSS Michel Barnier has thrown out Boris Johnson's demands to ditch the hated Irish backstop.
The hardline EU leader said the plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland was the "maximum flexibility" the bloc could offer.
Boris has insisted that unless the back-up plan - which would keep us tied to EU for years with no way of getting out - is ditched then Britain will have to leave without a deal on October 31.
Mr Barnier wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "On the EU side, we had intense discussions with EU member states on the need to guarantee the integrity of the EU's single market, while keeping that border fully open.
"In this sense, the backstop is the maximum amount of flexibility that the EU can offer to a non-member state."
He said he was "not optimistic" about avoiding a No Deal Brexit - but insisted everyone should work with determination to try and reach an agreement.
"The EU is ready to explore all avenues that the UK government may present and that are compatible with the withdrawal agreement," he said.
But Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have been more positive with Boris, saying they are open to looking at new solutions if they can work.
And Boris himself has revealed there has been some "movement" from the EU.
Today Michael Gove slapped down his comments, saying that the EU countries hold the real power.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the EU commission "ultimately does as the member states decree".
MPs are expected to take control of Parliament this week to try and force through a new law to stop a No Deal Brexit.
They will reveal their plans on Tuesday when Parliament comes back.
But Boris has warned Tory rebels thinking of teaming up with Jeremy Corbyn to pick which side they are on.
"Are you going to side with those who want to scrub the democratic verdict of the people - and plunge this country into chaos?" he told the Sunday Times.
"Or are you going to side with those of us who want to get on, deliver the mandate of the people and focus with absolute, laser-like precision on the domestic agenda?"
Top Tories warn 'Brexit in name only would stuff the party'
A BREXIT in name only where Britain didn't fully leave would leave Boris, the Tories and the Government stuffed, a top Tory has warned today.
Brexiteer Steve Baker, who has voted down Theresa May's deal three times, said he was sure that Boris knew that delivering a partial Brexit would be disasterous.
He wrote: "I am confident @BorisJohnson knows a BRINO deal would stuff his government, the @Conservatives and the country."
And ex-Brexit minister Suella Braverman wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that Britain needed a "new deal.
She said: "the withdrawal agreement is flawed and exposes the UK. We need better protection of our interests".
And the MP demanded a deal "which keeps the promises, honours democracy and sets Britain free".
It comes after several senior Brexiteers have warned Boris against trying to pass a reheated version of Theresa May's hated deal, which was thrown out repeatedly in Parliament.
Boris has vowed to rip out the hated Northern Ireland backstop before signing up for a fresh Brexit deal.
David Davies and Iain Duncan Smith have both said that the backstop isn't their only problem, and have drawn up a shopping list of other demands.
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And International Development Secretary Alok Sharma said MPs should give Boris the time to get a new deal rather than strike against him this week.
The Sun revealed yesterday that No10 would take the whip off any Tory who voted to block a No Deal Brexit, meaning they couldn't stand for the party again in an election.
Today David Gauke hinted he might be willing to take that risk to stop a No Deal, telling Sky's Sophy Ridge: "Sometimes it’s between personal and national interests and the national interests have to come first. But I hope it doesn’t come to that."
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