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Boris Johnson: EU 'a bit negative' over backstop demands

Boris Johnson says the EU has been "a bit negative" over his demand that the Irish border backstop plan should be scrapped.

The prime minister said the reaction from European Council President Donald Tusk to his suggestion “wasn’t redolent of a sense of optimism”.

But he added: “I think there is a real sense now that something needs to be done with this backstop. We can’t get it through Parliament as it is."

20 August 2019

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Science & Environment

BBC News

One-minute World News

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With some travel disruption, children and dogs have been enjoying the cold weather

Watch: Scotland under a blanket of snow from Storm Bert

Science & Environment

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East of England weather forecast

Composite image of Sir Keir Starmer and BBC Radio WM presenter Kath Stanczyszyn, who is pictured wearing headphones and speaking into a purple microphone

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BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

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Power station demolition captured by drone

Lindsay Hoyle dragged by both arms

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Correspondent Ben Chu

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Chris Mason and Mark Logan

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Factory workers in Milton Keynes

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Carla Denyer

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Faiza Shaheen talking on BBC Newsnight

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Sir Keir Starmer wearing a suit and a brown tie

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Ed Davey falls from a paddle board

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Rishi Sunak

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Rishi Sunak

Oops! Sunak asks if Welsh are looking forward to Euros

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Richard Tice

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Sir Keir Starmer

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