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Brexit: Boris Johnson rejects leaks over Irish border plan Brexit: Boris Johnson rejects leaks over Irish border plan
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has rejected leaked claims overnight that the government has proposed "customs clearance zones" to tackle the Irish border issue.Boris Johnson has rejected leaked claims overnight that the government has proposed "customs clearance zones" to tackle the Irish border issue.
Government sources told the BBC it had prepared the legal text of an updated Brexit deal and would be making more plans public in the coming days.Government sources told the BBC it had prepared the legal text of an updated Brexit deal and would be making more plans public in the coming days.
But Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast he was "not going to be producing now what we are going to be tabling" to the EU.But Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast he was "not going to be producing now what we are going to be tabling" to the EU.
The leaked proposals were "confused" and "not right", the PM added.The leaked proposals were "confused" and "not right", the PM added.
He said this was the "moment the rubber hits the road" in negotiations and the UK would making "a very good offer" to the EU.
The issue of the Irish border - and how to keep it free from border checks when it becomes the frontier between the UK and the EU - has been a key sticking point in Brexit negotiations.The issue of the Irish border - and how to keep it free from border checks when it becomes the frontier between the UK and the EU - has been a key sticking point in Brexit negotiations.
The current government says the solution reached by the EU and Theresa May, the backstop, is unacceptable and an alternative to it must be found.The current government says the solution reached by the EU and Theresa May, the backstop, is unacceptable and an alternative to it must be found.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg says Mr Johnson may have given an explicit denial on the specifics of this customs clearance idea, but he clearly accepts the concept of having more checks.
Mr Johnson was speaking at the start of the third day of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.
The government has made a raft of policy announcements, including raising the National Living Wage over the next five years and investing into roads and bus networks.
But the plans have been overshadowed by allegations that Mr Johnson squeezed the thigh of a journalist under a table at a lunch in 1999.
Asked about the allegation by Charlotte Edwardes, the PM told Breakfast: "They're not true. It's obviously very sad that someone should make such allegations."
Customs postsCustoms posts
The BBC's Iain Watson said according to leaked proposals, the government accepts there must be customs checks on the island of Ireland, but they would be conducted away from the border.The BBC's Iain Watson said according to leaked proposals, the government accepts there must be customs checks on the island of Ireland, but they would be conducted away from the border.
Customs formalities would be carried out mostly where goods originate or at their final destination.Customs formalities would be carried out mostly where goods originate or at their final destination.
The Irish broadcaster RTE had reported that a "string of customs posts perhaps five to 10 miles away from the frontier" had been floated by the UK.The Irish broadcaster RTE had reported that a "string of customs posts perhaps five to 10 miles away from the frontier" had been floated by the UK.
But the prime minister insisted "that's not what we're proposing at all".But the prime minister insisted "that's not what we're proposing at all".
Mr Johnson was speaking at the start of the third day of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. He would not reveal details of the proposals to be put to the EU, saying in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he "would like to veil our proposals in decent obscurity" before sharing them.
The government has made a raft of policy announcements, including raising the National Living Wage over the next five years and investing into roads and bus networks. But Mr Johnson said this was the "moment the rubber hits the road" and the UK would making "a very good offer".
But the plans have been overshadowed by allegations that Mr Johnson squeezed the thigh of a journalist under a table at a lunch in 1999. He also insisted the government had made "a great deal of progress" in negotiations since August, and they were working "flat out to get a deal".
Asked about the allegation by Charlotte Edwardes, the PM told Breakfast: "They're not true. It's obviously very sad that someone should make such allegations." Just as with Theresa May, customs is proving to be the sticking point for this prime minister.
He, however, is taking a different attitude towards what a potential solution might be.
Boris Johnson explicitly denied the suggestion that came out overnight that there will be a string of customs points on either side of the Irish border.
However, we heard him clearly accept that the concept of having more checks will be part of the proposal he puts to Brussels in the next couple of days.
So, an explicit denial on the specifics of this idea, but an acceptance this concept is something real, is something that the UK government is going to pursue and that, of course, is extremely difficult for the other side.