UK Boris Johnson unveils final Brexit plan

World Today

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed what’s being described as a ‘take it or leave it’ final Brexit offer to the European Union. If it fails, it sets Britain on a path to a possibly chaotic departure from the EU without any transitional trading arrangements in place.

CGTN’s Richard Bestic reports from Manchester, England.

England’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s popularity among his Conservative Party faithful is beyond doubt. He knows them and he knows the buttons to press, especially when it comes to Brexit.

“And that is why we are coming out of the EU on October 31, come what May, conference. Let’s get Brexit done. We can, we must and we will,” said the Prime Minister.

Johnson’s plan has been described as a ‘two borders’ arrangement, where goods could be checked away from the European Union’s frontier, leaving Northern Ireland in a special relationship with Brussels for at least four years.

It’s a compromise that ticks all the boxes, according to the U.K. Prime Minister.

“We will respect the peace process and the Good Friday agreement. And by a process of renewable democratic consent by the executive and assembly of Northern Ireland we will go further and protect the existing regulatory arrangements for farmers and businesses on both sides of the border,” said Johnson.

What Johnson said in these closed halls must be carried intact to Parliament in London and then onto the EU’s other member states. And therein lies the challenge.

“Frankly, no, there is no reason to be reassured by this (speech). Now, in terms of Brexit itself, the same old mantra, ‘we are going to respect the Good Friday Agreement, we are going to get out of the European Union,” said Phillipe Lamberts of the European Parliament Steering Group.

It’s unlikely the Johnson’s plan will be immediately shredded by Brussels, apart from anything else that would play into the blame game should Brexit crash and burn.

And the Prime Minister’s government has at least produced a legal document, which will need considering. So, there will be talking. The question is, of course as always with Brexit, to what end.