United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected reports that his government has proposed to the EU in the Brexit dispute customs clearance zones off the Irish-Northern Irish border. Negotiations with Brussels are at a "crucial stage," Johnson said in a BBC interview at the Conservative party in Manchester. It will not now bring out what you want to submit to the EU.
Other than reported, customs clearance centers off the border are not part of his solution, said the PM. However, his government has already put forward proposals to the EU to eliminate the customs clearance of livestock and certain foods. According to Johnson's government, after Brexit EU rules for certain goods should apply in Northern Ireland. "This is a big concession from the UK government," Johnson said.
The Irish Government objected immediately. The proposals are "pipe-breakers," said Foreign Minister Simon Coveney. The EU is behind Dublin in the Brexit negotiations.
The Irish broadcaster RTÉ had previously reported that Johnson's proposal provided for physical controls beyond the border. Customs duty goods would therefore be registered in control centers a few kilometers from the border and tracked by GPS until they arrived on the other side.
According to RTÉ, the plans were sent to Brussels in non-binding drafting papers (non-papers). The British "Telegraph" reporter Peter Foster wants to have learned, however, that it is also part of official proposals London, Johnson wants to introduce after the end of the Tory party congress on Wednesday.
Party meeting is overshadowed by harassment allegations
In the Brexit negotiations, the head of the government insists that the guarantee clause for an open border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland - the so-called backstop - be dropped. Otherwise, he threatens an unregulated exit from the EU on 31 October. This in turn would damage the economy and many other areas of life. A postponement of the resignation ruled out Johnson again.
However, the British parliament passed a law in early September against a no-deal Brexit. It will force Johnson to request a three-month extension of the Brexit deadline should no agreement with the EU be ratified by 19 October. The application would then have to be approved unanimously by the remaining 27 EU Member States.
Brexit is also busy with the current Tory party convention in Manchester. The party meeting was overshadowed by the accusation of a journalist that Johnson had sexually harassed her and another woman 20 years ago. Johnson rejected the allegations again. "That's not true," said the head of government. He is "very sad" that someone claims something like that. Sunday Times columnist Charlotte Edwardes reported that Johnson had put her hand on a thigh during lunch as Editor-in-Chief of Spectator magazine.
