No matter what

Boris Johnson to Leo Varadkar: Brexit will happen in October ‘no matter what’

British PM’s opposition to Irish backstop rebuffed by Irish leader.

By EMILIO CASALICCHIO

The U.K. will leave the EU at the end of October “no matter what,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar.

The leaders had their first phone call today since Johnson took over from Theresa May. The new British leader has ratcheted up preparations for a no-deal departure from the EU and insisted he would only hold further negotiations if Brussels agrees to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement, something it has steadfastly refused to do.

“On Brexit, the Prime Minister made clear that the U.K. will be leaving the EU on October 31, no matter what,” Downing Street said in a readout of the call, which took place this morning.

But the Irish government said Varadkar refused point blank the request by Johnson to reopen the draft deal struck between Brussels and Theresa May.

“Noting that the Brexit negotiations take place between the U.K. and the EU, the Taoiseach explained that the EU was united in its view that the Withdrawal Agreement could not be reopened,” a statement from the Irish government says.

Johnson also told Varadkar he wants the controversial backstop plan to protect the Northern Irish border scrapped.

“He [Johnson] said that in all scenarios, the government will be steadfast in its commitment to the Belfast Agreement and will never put physical checks or physical infrastructure on the border,” the statement from Downing Street says, adding: “The prime minister made clear that the government will approach any negotiations which take place with determination and energy and in a spirit of friendship, and that his clear preference is to leave the EU with a deal, but it must be one that abolishes the backstop.”

However, Varadkar “emphasised to the Prime Minister that the backstop was necessary as a consequence of decisions taken in the U.K. and by the U.K. government,” Dublin said.

The Irish leader reiterated the EU position that technological solutions — also known as alternative arrangements — could replace the backstop in the future, subject to agreement in the Political Declaration on the future relationship between the U.K. and the EU.

The pair also spoke about the restoration of the Northern Irish Assembly and agreed to stay in contact, with Varakdar inviting Johnson to Dublin for further discussions.