Boris Johnson’s major U-turn sparks intense negotiations to secure Brexit deal

EU officials say British PM Boris Johnson has indicated he is prepared to make sufficient concessions to allow detailed talks to begin

Both sides will work over the weekend ahead of summit of EU leaders on Thursday

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Anti-Brexit activists hold the flags of the EU, Britain and Ireland in Brussels. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00am, 12 Oct 2019Updated: 9:56am, 12 Oct 2019

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signalled that he will make a last-ditch U-turn on his plans for the Irish border, setting up 48 hours of intense negotiations that will make or break a Brexit deal.

On a day of rapid movement in talks, European Union sources said Johnson had conceded there could not be a customs border on the island of Ireland – a critical step away from his previous position.

That came after European ambassadors prompted tentative hope of a deal by giving the green light for what some diplomats described as a “tunnel” discussion in which a small team of negotiators meet for intensive talks to find a break-through moment.

The Democratic Unionist party and European Research Group (ERG), a group of right-wing Conservatives, later issued statements promising flexibility, keeping hope alive that Johnson could find support for a new offer in the House of Commons.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a race to push through fresh proposals. Photo: AFP

But amid ongoing scepticism that a deal could be forced through in the short time left and with Angela Merkel due to hold talks with Emmanuel Macron on Sunday night, the prime minister faces a frantic race to push through his fresh proposals with Brussels or at home.

“The UK has accepted that there is not a deal that involves a border on the island of Ireland – that is a big break from what they were saying,” one EU source said. “Now the key is for them to lay out how their new position over the weekend.”