This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49608822
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Johnson tells Varadkar no-deal Brexit 'would be a failure' | Johnson tells Varadkar no-deal Brexit 'would be a failure' |
| (about 2 hours 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 was in Dublin for his first meeting with Irish PM Leo Varadkar since he entered Number 10. | The prime minister was in Dublin for his first meeting with Irish PM Leo Varadkar since he entered Number 10. |
| The government has confirmed Parliament will 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 will not back the vote, meaning there will be no election in October as the PM had hoped. | Opposition parties will not back the vote, meaning there will be no election in October as the PM had hoped. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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, although the Irish government has said it would support another extension. |
| But Mr Johnson told reporters in Dublin he was "absolutely undaunted" about what might happen in Parliament. | But Mr Johnson told reporters in Dublin he was "absolutely undaunted" about what might happen in Parliament. |
| 'Significant gaps' | 'Significant gaps' |
| Mr Johnson also said he had looked at the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, and "wanted to find a deal". | Mr Johnson 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. | "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. | The two leaders spoke privately for half an hour before joining their delegations for another half-hour meeting, said a joint statement. |
| "While they agreed that the discussions are at an early stage, common ground was established in some areas although significant gaps remain," it added. | "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 Reporter | By 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. | 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 the prime minister is currently boxed in by opposition parties, with 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. |
| 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. | 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 did the meeting take 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". |
| 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. |
| However, DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told the BBC he did not believe the government was contemplating this. | However, DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told the BBC he did not believe the government was contemplating this. |
| He said he did not believe "that kind of scenario will come to fruition" - but insisted if it did, the DUP's 10 MPs would vote against it. | He said he did not believe "that kind of scenario will come to fruition" - but insisted if it did, the DUP's 10 MPs would vote against it. |
| 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. | 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 ahead | Parliament suspension will go ahead |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.. |
| Unless power-sharing talks succeed before Brexit happens, Mr Smith has said direct rule powers from Westminster will need to be implemented at pace. | Unless power-sharing talks succeed before Brexit happens, Mr Smith has said direct rule powers from Westminster will need to be implemented at pace. |
| Meanwhile, legislation designed to delay a no-deal Brexit and force the prime minister to request an extension to the EU deadline received royal assent on Monday afternoon and has become law. | |
| However, Mr Johnson has said he will not ask the EU for another extension, so it is unclear what might happen next. | However, Mr Johnson 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 Mr 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. |