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Johnson tells Varadkar no-deal Brexit 'would be a failure' Johnson tells Varadkar no-deal Brexit 'would be a failure'
(32 minutes later)
A no-deal Brexit would be a failure that both the British and Irish governments would be responsible for, Boris Johnson has said.A no-deal Brexit would be a failure that both the British and Irish governments would be responsible for, Boris Johnson has said.
The prime minister is in Dublin for his first meeting with the taoiseach (Irish PM) since he entered Downing Street. The prime minister was in Dublin for his first meeting with Irish PM Leo Varadkar since he entered Number 10.
Downing Street confirmed Parliament would be suspended later after a vote on holding an early general election. The government has confirmed Parliament will be suspended later after a vote on holding an early general election.
Opposition parties said they will not back the vote, meaning no election in mid October as Mr Johnson had hoped. Opposition parties will not back the vote, meaning there will be no election in October as the PM had hoped.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Johnson said he believed a Brexit deal was still possible by the EU summit in October. Mr Johnson said he believed a Brexit deal was still possible by the EU summit in October, but Taoiseach Varadkar said there was no such thing as a "clean break" between the UK and the EU.
However Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there was no such thing as a "clean break" between the UK and the EU. Mr Johnson has ruled out asking the EU to delay the Brexit deadline of 31 October, although the Irish government has said it would support another extension.
Mr Johnson has ruled out asking the EU to delay the Brexit deadline of 31 October - but the Irish government said it would support another extension. Ahead of their meeting, Mr Varadkar said he would be asking his UK counterpart how he plans to get a Brexit deal through Parliament without a majority in the House of Commons
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Varadkar said he would be asking Boris Johnson how he plans to get a Brexit deal through Parliament when he does not have a majority in the House of Commons. But Mr Johnson told reporters in Dublin he was "absolutely undaunted" about what might happen in Parliament.
But Mr Johnson told reporters in Dublin that he was "absolutely undaunted" about what might happen in Parliament in the coming days. 'Significant gaps'
Downing Street later confirmed Parliament will be suspended when business in the Commons finishes on Monday night or the early hours of Tuesday. Mr Johnson also said he had looked at the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, and "wanted to find a deal".
He also said he had looked at the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, and "wanted to find a deal". "We must restore Stormont and we must come out [of the EU] on 31 October, or else permanent damage will be done in the UK to trust in our democratic system," he added.
"There are two tasks we simply have to do - we must restore Stormont and we must come out [of the EU] on 31 October, or else permanent damage will be done in the UK to trust in our democratic system," he added. The two leaders spoke privately for half an hour before joining their delegations for another half-hour meeting, said a joint statement.
Mr Varadkar said the Irish government "cannot and will not replace legal guarantee with a promise". "While they agreed that the discussions are at an early stage, common ground was established in some areas although significant gaps remain," it added.
Analysis: A change in tone?Analysis: A change in tone?
By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political ReporterBy Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political Reporter
Boris Johnson arrived in Dublin trying to strike a more conciliatory tone than in previous weeks.Boris Johnson arrived in Dublin trying to strike a more conciliatory tone than in previous weeks.
Perhaps brought to bear by cabinet ministers concerned about no deal, Mr Johnson insisted he wants an agreement.Perhaps brought to bear by cabinet ministers concerned about no deal, Mr Johnson insisted he wants an agreement.
But trust is a crucial tenet of any political relationship, something the Irish government is all too aware of. But trust is a crucial tenet of any political relationship.
A stony-faced Leo Varadkar said a deal is still possible, but warned that promises from the UK wouldn't cut it.A stony-faced Leo Varadkar said a deal is still possible, but warned that promises from the UK wouldn't cut it.
The Irish government is also watching Westminster events closely, knowing that the prime minister is currently boxed in by the opposition parties and has few options left. The Irish government is also watching Westminster events closely, knowing the prime minister is currently boxed in by opposition parties, with few options left.
The breakthrough was never going to happen today, but what goes on behind closed doors in this key meeting could potentially pave the way for movement in the days to come. A breakthrough was never going to happen today, but what goes on behind closed doors around this key meeting could potentially pave the way for movement.
Why is the meeting taking place? Why did the meeting take place?
The taoiseach invited Mr Johnson to Dublin two months ago, shortly after he was installed in Downing Street, to discuss Brexit.The taoiseach invited Mr Johnson to Dublin two months ago, shortly after he was installed in Downing Street, to discuss Brexit.
The Irish government maintains that the backstop - the mechanism to avoid an Irish hard border - is needed in any withdrawal agreement, because of decisions made by the UK.The Irish government maintains that the backstop - the mechanism to avoid an Irish hard border - is needed in any withdrawal agreement, because of decisions made by the UK.
But Mr Johnson has said he will not sign up to a deal unless the backstop is removed, because it is "anti-democratic".But Mr Johnson has said he will not sign up to a deal unless the backstop is removed, because it is "anti-democratic".
Ahead of the visit to Dublin, the prime minister said he wanted to discuss the possibility of an all-Ireland food standards zone as part of a solution to replace the Brexit backstop.Ahead of the visit to Dublin, the prime minister said he wanted to discuss the possibility of an all-Ireland food standards zone as part of a solution to replace the Brexit backstop.
There is also speculation that the government could propose returning to a backstop that would only apply to Northern Ireland, with the possibility of a role for the Stormont assembly before it could be triggered or new EU rules would take effect.There is also speculation that the government could propose returning to a backstop that would only apply to Northern Ireland, with the possibility of a role for the Stormont assembly before it could be triggered or new EU rules would take effect.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith has denied claims that he would leave his position, following the resignation of Amber Rudd at the weekend. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith has denied claims he would leave his position, following the resignation of Amber Rudd as pensions secretary at the weekend.
Parliament suspension will go aheadParliament suspension will go ahead
Downing Street confirmed on Monday that Parliament will be suspended when business in the Commons finishes later in the day. Parliament will be suspended when business in the Commons finishes later on Monday, after MPs have voted again on whether to hold an early general election.
This will happen after MPs have voted again on whether to hold an early general election. Before Parliament is prorogued, MPs will debate progress reports updating them on efforts to restore the Stormont assembly.
Before Parliament is prorogued, MPs will debate progress reports updating them on efforts to restore the Stormont assembly, which collapsed more than two years ago. Northern Ireland's devolved parliament collapsed in January 2017 when Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister, citing the DUP's conduct around a flawed green energy scheme..
Northern Ireland's devolved parliament collapsed in January 2017 when Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister, citing the DUP's conduct around a flawed green energy scheme as the main reason. Unless power-sharing talks succeed before Brexit happens, Mr Smith has said direct rule powers from Westminster will need to be implemented at pace.
Talks aimed at restarting devolution have failed with one of the main sticking points being DUP opposition to an Irish Language act and the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, legislation designed to delay a no-deal Brexit and force the prime minister to request an extension to the EU deadline will receive royal assent later.
Mr Smith has said unless power-sharing talks succeed before Brexit happens, direct rule powers from Westminster will need to be implemented at pace. However, Mr Johnson has said he will not ask the EU for another extension, so it is unclear what might happen next.
Meanwhile, legislation designed to delay a no-deal Brexit and force the prime minister to request an extension to the deadline from the EU will receive royal assent later.
However, the prime minister has said he will not ask the EU for another extension, so it is unclear what might happen next.
The government will move another motion asking MPs to vote for a general election on Monday too, but it is unlikely to pass because opposition parties have agreed to reject the demand, saying Mr Johnson is trying to force through a no-deal exit.The government will move another motion asking MPs to vote for a general election on Monday too, but it is unlikely to pass because opposition parties have agreed to reject the demand, saying Mr Johnson is trying to force through a no-deal exit.
What is the backstop?What is the backstop?
The backstop is a key piece of the Brexit deal dictating what will happen to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.The backstop is a key piece of the Brexit deal dictating what will happen to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
It is a last resort that guarantees a frictionless border if no better solution is devised in time - by maintaining close ties between the UK and the EU until such a solution is found.It is a last resort that guarantees a frictionless border if no better solution is devised in time - by maintaining close ties between the UK and the EU until such a solution is found.
The Irish government has insisted if it took effect it would only be temporary, but Boris Johnson has said he will not sign up to a deal unless the backstop is removed from the withdrawal agreement. The Irish government has insisted if it took effect it would only be temporary, but Mr Johnson has said he will not sign up to a deal unless the backstop is removed from the withdrawal agreement.
Read more here.Read more here.