PM says 'undemocratic' backstop must be scrapped

Boris Johnson has told the EU the backstop plan for the Irish border must be scrapped because it is "unviable" and "anti-democratic".

In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, the PM said the backstop - which aims to avoid a hard border - risked undermining the Northern Irish peace process.

If the plan was removed, Mr Johnson claimed a Brexit deal would be passed by parliament.

Brussels has not yet responded.

However, the EU has consistently insisted the backstop must remain part of the withdrawal agreement and cannot be changed.

In a phone conversation with Mr Johnson on Monday evening, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar reiterated that the agreement could not be reopened and the backstop could not change.