Downing Street said Johnson spoke by phone to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Tuesday afternoon, and "both sides strongly reiterated their desire to reach a Brexit deal." The bloc says the proposals — which would require customs checks on some goods moving between Northern Ireland and Ireland — don't fulfill the U.K.'s commitment to a frictionless Irish border. An open border is key to both the regional economy and the peace agreement that ended 30 years of conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the U.K. but shares an island — and a land border — with the Republic of Ireland. His strategy from day one has been for a no-deal Brexit," said Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for the main opposition Labour Party.

Source: ABC News October 08, 2019 09:18 UTC