The government has published its new Brexit proposal to the EU in which the controversial Irish backstop has been removed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker that failure to reach a deal would be a “failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible”.
In his letter, entitled "a fair and reasonable compromise", Mr Johnson said “both sides now need to consider whether there is sufficient willingness to compromise” and reach an agreement before the October 31 deadline.
Mr Johnson wrote: "Our proposed compromise removes the so-called 'backstop' in the previous Withdrawal Agreement."
He described the backstop, a key reason why Theresa May's deal failed, as "a bridge to nowhere".
The Prime Minister proposed a new plan in which Northern Ireland would be part of the UK customs territory, as opposed to the EU's Customs Union, following a transition period.
"This is entirely compatible," Mr Johnson wrote, "with maintaining an open border in Northern Ireland."
He acknowledged there was "very little time" but said "both sides now need to consider whether there is sufficient willingness to compromise and move beyond existing positions" to reach an agreement.
Mr Johnson said the plan had five elements:
- A commitment to a solution compatible with the Good Friday Agreement
- Confirmation of support for long-standing areas of UK-Ireland collaboration including the Common Travel Area and north-south co-operation
- The potential creation of an all-Ireland regulatory zone covering all goods including agri-food
- The consent of those affected by that all-Ireland zone with the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly given the chance to endorse the plan before it comes into effect and then every four years
- Northern Ireland will be fully part of the UK customs territory and outside the EU's customs union.
Mr Johnson claimed the plan was "entirely compatible with maintaining an open border in Northern Ireland".
Fresh from his keynote speech at the Tory conference in Manchester, the PM rounded off the letter by telling Mr Juncker: "I hope that these proposals can now provide the basis for rapid negotiations towards a solution."
Mr Johnson's letter also signalled extra investment for Northern Ireland.
The "New Deal for Northern Ireland" would have "appropriate commitments to help boost economic growth and Northern Ireland's competitiveness, and to support infrastructure projects, particularly with a cross-border focus".
Mr Johnson's Democratic Unionist Party allies backed the proposals.
In a statement the party said the plans were a basis for the EU to continue "in a serious and sustained engagement with the UK Government without risk to the internal market of the United Kingdom" and they "ensure democratic consent to the specific alignment proposals".
"Further work remains to be completed between the UK and the European Union but we would encourage all concerned to approach these discussions in a positive mindset within a spirit of wanting to secure a negotiated withdrawal agreement that can allow everyone to focus on future relationships," the DUP added.
Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson, tweeted: Boris Johnson's leaked offer is nothing short of derisory.
"Based on principles long deemed unworkable by NI and ROI businesses, and delivering nothing more than confusion at vast cost, either he has learned nothing, or he wants them to be rejected. No Deal is on his hands."
