Boris Johnson news: PM confident 'our friends in the EU' will change Brexit position as No 10 refuses to recall parliament
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Your support makes all the difference.No 10 has rejected Labour’s call for Boris Johnson to recall parliament to debate Brexit, as Jeremy Corbyn vowed to block a no-deal exit and called the prime minister “Britain’s Trump”.
The PM claimed he was “confident” that “our friends and partners” in the EU would change their stance on the backstop and come up with a negotiated deal.
It comes as Downing Street reacts with fury to the publication of the “Operation Yellowhammer” dossier setting out the negative impacts of a crash-out departure. The Home Office, meanwhile, plans to end the free movement of EU citizens on day one of no deal.
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Downing Street have just said Boris Johnson held a phone call with his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar this evening for "almost an hour".
No 10 added: “They shared perspectives on the Withdrawal Agreement. The Prime Minister indicated that the Withdrawal Agreement in its current form will not get through the House of Commons, that the backstop would need to be removed, and that an alternative solution is required. The Taoiseach reiterated the EU27 position that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be reopened, and emphasised the importance of the legally operable guarantee to ensure no hard border and continued free trade on the island of Ireland.
“The Prime Minister made clear that the Common Travel Area, which long predates the UK and Ireland joining the EU, would not be affected by the ending of freedom of movement after Brexit."
According to reports, British diplomats across Europe were preparing to take part in a government-wide rehearsal for a no-deal exit from bloc.
Buzzfeed News said the operation - codenamed "Exercise Yellow Rehearse" - is being led by the Cabinet Office and due to take place three weeks before the Brexit deadline of 31 October.
Responding, a government spokesperson said: “We are making all necessary preparations to make sure we are ready to leave the EU by 31 October, whatever the circumstances.
“Government regularly conducts scenario-based exercises to ensure its plans are robust, including in relation to Brexit."
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