Michel Barnier warns UK faces 'disorderly' Brexit amid Irish border row
2 min read
The UK risks a "disorderly" Brexit unless a deal can be thrashed out on the future of the Irish border, Michel Barnier has warned.
The EU's chief negotiator said that agreement had still to be reached in 25% of areas and that there there was a "risk of failure" as a result.
His comments came after the Daily Telegraph reported that senior EU diplomatic sources had provided a "systematic and forensic annihilation" of the UK's ideas on how to maintain an open border between the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Britain has suggested a "customs partnership" with the EU, or using technological solutions, as a way of avoiding physical checks at the frontier between the two countries post-Brexit.
But one source told the Telegraph: "It was made clear that none of the UK’s customs options will work. None of them."
Downing Street said it "does not recognise" the reports, and insisted the Government remains "confident" of agreeing a deal on the border.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Barnier said: "I say as the Union's negotiator that there are still difficulties, still a risk of failure. On 25% of the text, we don't have agreement. If there is no agreement, there is no orderly withdrawal, there is a disorderly withdrawal and there is no transition."
The row comes after the House of Lords inflicted a major defeat on the Government by backing calls for the UK to stay in a customs union with the EU after Brexit.
A cross-party group of senior MPs have also scheduled a vote on a customs union in the Commons for next week.
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