United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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That's it. Boris Johnson's last word. Pronounced in Manchester in front of an ecstatic community of Brexit believers. His last - strictly speaking, but also first - offer to the European Union. He did not really adorn the details that were to be sent to Brussels shortly after his performance on a big stage. But one thing he made clear: take this or we'll be out of your club on the 31st of October without any agreement.
With his party speech, his first as British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, 70 days in office, has ushered in the showdown with the remaining 27 EU members. It will take almost exactly two weeks. On 17 October, the EU states will meet for their next summit in Brussels, and by then a new exit agreement will have to be negotiated should both sides have a real interest in avoiding a presumably chaotic no-deal scenario.
But if you correctly interpret the signs that were to be seen and heard on Wednesday morning before the big Johnson finale in Manchester, then the chances of a conciliatory end are not good.
EU officials spoke of a "kamikaze" course in a first reaction. In Berlin, politicians reacted in dismay. And from the Irish island, an "unacceptable" sounded over to Manchester. The trouble is with an offer that Johnson calls a "fair and reasonable compromise", but leaves the EU with virtually no choice but to reject it. Some in London believe: That's exactly what Johnson puts it to.
The proposals, which are now in writing for the first time, concern the so-called backstop. This is the emergency solution for the Irish-Northern Ireland border, which should come into force if London and Brussels could not agree on a free trade agreement by the end of 2020.
On today's almost invisible border, where countless people died during the civil war between 1969 and 1998, customs and other controls would have to be reintroduced. Since the violence could flare up again, both sides have committed themselves to guarantee smooth border traffic in the future as well.
The backstop negotiated under Theresa May, however, had aroused especially conservative hardliners. According to the plan, the UK as a whole would remain in a customs union with the EU, and Northern Ireland would also have had to largely follow the rules of the EU single market. The dream of the Brexiteers to be able to quickly conclude new trade agreements with the whole world would have remained for the time being. This hurdle finally overthrew Theresa May.
Even before his inauguration Boris Johnson had therefore declared the backstop "dead" and promised a completely new withdrawal agreement. How exactly that should have kept his government to himself - until now. Since Tuesday evening, Johnson's plans leaked, and these caught the EU negotiators apparently cold.
On Halloween is final, "come what would," said Boris Johnson
If true, as the British Daily Telegraph reports, then London is apparently planning "two borders for four years" on the Irish island. By 2025, therefore, animal and food transport in ferry ports on the Irish Sea should be controlled. For other goods there will have to be customs controls on the island, but ideally 10 to 15 kilometers away from the actual, more than 300 kilometers long Northern Irish-Irish border.
In Johnson's party speech, however, that sounded different. There, the head of the government asserted that there would be "under no circumstances" controls "at or near the border." His remarks instead suggest that he seeks obscure technological solutions, but even after more than two years of negotiations, no one can tell what they might look like. "I'm fed up with letting me know that our country can not do something if I'm passionate about it, we can do it," Johnson said nebulously.
Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said coolly: "That does not look like a basis for an agreement." Others spoke secretly of extortion.
In order not to jeopardize the Irish peace process and the EU internal market, the EU27 formulated clear conditions years ago. As a result, border traffic between Northern Ireland and Ireland must continue to be able to continue to operate without hindrance; there must be no loopholes that could lead to the market, for example, of American chickens or Chinese dumping textiles. Above all, the peace process on the island must not be endangered.
All three claims, it seems, have ignored London with its new offer. Nevertheless, the negotiators on both sides will bow to the proposal in the remaining days. And both sides will demonstrate goodwill - in order not to be held responsible in the end, it should come to the crash on 31 October.
That he does not shy away, Boris Johnson now let know again. On Halloween is the conclusion, "Come what," he called in Manchester. He did not mention that he would break a no-no-deal law passed by parliament. His cheering church did not bother.