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/uk-politics-49890199

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Boris Johnson: Irish customs checks will be 'reality' after Brexit Boris Johnson: Irish customs checks will be 'reality' after Brexit
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson says the "reality" of Brexit is there will need to be customs checks on the island of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.Boris Johnson says the "reality" of Brexit is there will need to be customs checks on the island of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.
But the PM rejected claims that would effectively mean a hard border, in the form of a series of customs posts set five or 10 miles back.But the PM rejected claims that would effectively mean a hard border, in the form of a series of customs posts set five or 10 miles back.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A sovereign united country must have a single customs territory."He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A sovereign united country must have a single customs territory."
He refused to give details, but said formal proposals would be made soon.He refused to give details, but said formal proposals would be made soon.
Government sources told the BBC on Monday night it had prepared the legal text of an updated Brexit deal and would be making more plans public in the coming days. Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Brexit minister James Duddridge said the government would "set out more detail on an alternative to the backstop in the coming days".
Sources also accused unnamed individuals in the European Commission of trying to create "a hostile reaction" to their revised Brexit deal in order to put pressure on the government to make more concessions. He also said he wanted to "assure the House there will be no infrastructure checks or controls at the border".
But a European Commission spokesperson said they would not be commenting on the reports, adding they had "not received any proposals from the UK that meet all the objectives of the backstop, as we have been reiterating and demanding".
The UK is set to leave the EU on 31 October.The UK is set to leave the EU on 31 October.
Mr Johnson has said the exit will go ahead with or without a deal - despite MPs passing a law last month forcing him to ask for an extension from the EU if Parliament hasn't voted in favour of a specific deal or leaving without one.Mr Johnson has said the exit will go ahead with or without a deal - despite MPs passing a law last month forcing him to ask for an extension from the EU if Parliament hasn't voted in favour of a specific deal or leaving without one.
Personal conductPersonal conduct
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.
Mr Johnson was speaking at the start of the third day of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. Mr Johnson was speaking at the start of the third day of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester where ministers have made a raft of policy announcements, including raising the National Living Wage.
The government has made a raft of policy announcements, including raising the National Living Wage over the next five years and investing in roads and bus networks. But the plans have been overshadowed by allegations that Mr Johnson squeezed the thigh of journalist Charlotte Edwards under a table at a lunch in 1999.
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 accusation, the PM told BBC Breakfast it was "not true", but it was "inevitable" he would face "shot and shell" because of his stance on Brexit.
Asked about the allegation by Charlotte Edwardes in the Sunday Times, the PM told BBC Breakfast: "They're not true. It's obviously very sad that someone should make such allegations."
Mr Johnson also said it was "inevitable" he would face "shot and shell" because of his stance on Brexit.
But after No 10 first denied the accusation on Sunday evening, Ms Edwardes tweeted: "If the prime minister doesn't recollect the incident then clearly I have a better memory than he does."
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. According to leaked proposals, the government has accepted there must be customs checks on the island of Ireland, but they would be conducted away from the border - mostly where goods originate or at their final destination.
Customs formalities would be carried out mostly where goods originate or at their final destination. 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 Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said the plans were a "non-starter", tweeting that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland "deserve better".
The prime minister told Breakfast: "They are not talking about the proposals that we are actually going to be tabling.The prime minister told Breakfast: "They are not talking about the proposals that we are actually going to be tabling.
"They are talking about some stuff that went in previously.""They are talking about some stuff that went in previously."
He would not reveal details of the proposals to be put to the EU, telling Today he "would like to veil our proposals in decent obscurity" before sharing them. Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said that idea was a "non-starter", tweeting that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland "deserve better".
But Mr Johnson said this was the "moment the rubber hits the road" and the UK would making "a very good offer". Government sources accused unnamed individuals in the European Commission of leaking the suggestion in an effort to create "a hostile reaction" to their revised Brexit deal.
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". A European Commission spokesperson said they would not be commenting on the reports, but their position remained that they had "not received any proposals from the UK that meet all the objectives of the backstop".
Mr Johnson told the BBC he would not reveal details of the proposals to be put to the EU at this stage, but the UK would be making "a very good offer".
We don't have the exact proposals from the UK government, but we're beginning to get the shape of it.We don't have the exact proposals from the UK government, but we're beginning to get the shape of it.
Yes, there will be customs checks, but no, there won't be a hard border, and no, these checks won't be done five or 10 miles away from the border.Yes, there will be customs checks, but no, there won't be a hard border, and no, these checks won't be done five or 10 miles away from the border.
The government is saying we can do most of them in the depots and warehouses before lorries even leave.The government is saying we can do most of them in the depots and warehouses before lorries even leave.
In some instances, there will be physical inspections, but then it will be up to customs authorities to decide where to do them - it might be at the depots or they might want their own physical area to carry them out.In some instances, there will be physical inspections, but then it will be up to customs authorities to decide where to do them - it might be at the depots or they might want their own physical area to carry them out.
The problem with that is the Irish government and the EU don't want any checks at all, because they view them as a hardening of the border even if it isn't a hard border.The problem with that is the Irish government and the EU don't want any checks at all, because they view them as a hardening of the border even if it isn't a hard border.
The view of the British government is that life can't just carry on the same as before because we are leaving and we want to have our own trade policy.The view of the British government is that life can't just carry on the same as before because we are leaving and we want to have our own trade policy.
Tory MP and chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group Steve Baker said there would be "some additional checks" after Brexit, but that was "inescapable". Labour's Hilary Benn asked an urgent question in the Commons about the government's plans for the island of Ireland.
He told BBC News: "People need to face up to the true reality here. We are leaving, and that, I am afraid, will mean some change to the status quo. "Today there are no border posts or checks on goods crossing the border... and the backstop is there to ensure that remains the case after Brexit.
"But I'm absolutely confident this can be a world class border with a real minimisation of inconvenience to businesses and individuals - consistent with the kind of approach adopted today." "The government's position now, however, is that the reality of Brexit will require customs check on the island of Ireland - that is the inexorable logic of the prime minister's statement this morning."
'Kept in the dark' He added: "It is unacceptable for us to be kept in the dark about what is being proposed in our name on such an important matter."
Labour's Hilary Benn asked an urgent question in the Commons about the government's plans for the island of Ireland after Brexit. The Northern Irish DUP MP, Gregory Campbell, supported the government and said the House should "draw a little comfort" from the fact the EU appeared to have shifted somewhat from its previous position of refusing point blank to re-open the withdrawal agreement.
Brexit minister James Dudridge said the government would "set out more detail on an alternative to the backstop in the coming days" and said he wanted to "assure the House there will be no infrastructure checks or controls at the border". "At least that is a glimmer of light," he said.
But Mr Benn - who led the bill to block a no-deal Brexit at the end of the month - said he felt "none much the wiser" by the answer. But the SNP's Peter Grant said the "future of peace and normality on the island of Ireland will critically depend on the action of this prime minister" and claimed governments around the EU were beginning to believe Mr Johnson "could not be trusted".
After a raft of questions seeking more detail, Mr Benn said: "It is unacceptable for us to be kept in the dark about what is being proposed in our name on such an important matter." Earlier, Tory MP and chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group Steve Baker said there would be "some additional checks" after Brexit, but that was "inescapable".
He told BBC News: "I'm absolutely confident this can be a world class border with a real minimisation of inconvenience to businesses and individuals - consistent with the kind of approach adopted today."