Brexit: Government to set out Boris Johnson’s deal to MPs

The government is expected to set out its proposals for a Brexit deal in Parliament later, while EU leaders also consider their response.

On Wednesday Boris Johnson outlined plans that would see Northern Ireland stay in the European single market for goods but leave the customs union – resulting in new customs checks.

The European Commission welcomed “advances” but said problems remained.

The PM says the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal.

He insists he will not ask for a further extension if no deal is reached despite legislation designed to force him to do so unless MPs pass a deal or approve a no-deal Brexit before 19 October.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose stance is expected to guide how the EU responds, said the UK’s approach “did not fully meet the agreed objectives of the backstop”. The backstop is a mechanism designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.

However, he did add he would study the proposals “in further detail”.

The UK government hopes to begin a period of intense negotiations with the aim of reaching a final agreement at an EU summit on 17 October.

A government minister is expected to update the House of Commons on the proposals on Thursday. There will also be a meeting of the cabinet in the morning.

Many EU leaders feared, before they saw it, that the plan would show the prime minister was focused on a domestic audience, on an upcoming general election and not engaging with the EU.

But I have spoken to a number of EU diplomats tonight who say some of the proposals were better than expected.

But they emphasised very big differences remain between the two sides.

The EU has a number of concerns when it comes to the prime minister’s offer.

And the European Commission says before it can think of compromise it has a number of detailed questions for the government, when it has properly digested the paper.

The main concern for the EU, the big flashing lights, come down to customs.

It fears the prime minister’s offer could pose a threat to the Northern Ireland peace process and leave the single market exposed after Brexit. Those are two big no-nos for the EU.

Looking forward, they have to come to agreement and unanimity among themselves

Any idea in the UK that EU leaders will turn to Ireland and say you need to compromise because we want a deal with the UK is not one we are hearing behind the scenes or in public.

What is in the plan?

The prime minister’s Brexit plan set out details of a replacement for the Irish border “backstop” in the current Brexit agreement.

The backstop is the controversial “insurance policy” that is meant to keep a free-flowing border on the island of Ireland but which critics – including the PM – fear could trap the UK in EU trading rules indefinitely.

Under Mr Johnson’s proposals, which he calls a “broad landing zone” for a new deal with the EU:

Northern Ireland would leave the EU’s customs union alongside the rest of the UK, at the start of 2021
But Northern Ireland would, with the consent of politicians in the Northern Ireland Assembly, continue to apply EU legislation relating to agricultural and other products – what he calls an “all-island regulatory zone”
This arrangement could, in theory, continue indefinitely, but the consent of Northern Ireland’s politicians would have to be sought every four years
Customs checks on goods traded between the UK and EU would be “decentralised”, with paperwork submitted electronically and only a “very small number” of physical checks
These checks should take place away from the border itself, at business premises or at “other points in the supply chain”

The government is also promising a “New Deal for Northern Ireland”, with financial commitments to help manage the changes.

How have politicians reacted?

The Democratic Unionist Party – whose votes the government is likely to need to pass the deal – have supported the plan saying it would allow Northern Ireland to leave the customs union and single market at the same time as the rest of the UK.

However, other Northern Ireland parties criticised the proposals.

Sinn Fein called the plans a “non-starter”, the Social Democratic and Labour Party said they were “dead on arrival” and the Ulster Unionist Party argued Northern Ireland would be left in a “perpetual cycle of uncertainty”.

Media captionDUP leader says new proposals “sensible and serious”

Several Conservative MPs who rejected Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement signalled their support. Leading Brexiteer Steve Baker said it was “highly likely” the deal would get through Parliament.

Some Labour MPs also hinted they could back the deal. BBC Newsnight’s Nick Watt reported that Gareth Snell and Ruth Smeeth would support the deal if it were approved by the EU.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the deal was “not acceptable” and the Lib Dem’s Jo Swinson accused Mr Johnson of not being “serious about getting a deal”.

Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said the proposals were “designed to fail”.

If the EU and UK cannot agree a deal which is approved by MPs by 19 October, the prime minister is compelled by the Benn Act to seek an extension to the Brexit negotiation process unless the Commons votes to leave without a deal.

However, the prime minister has repeatedly insisted the UK will leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal, and that he will not ask for an extension.

Please upgrade your browser