Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson held talks with allies in Northern Ireland on Wednesday in a bid to solve the Irish border conundrum that has scuppered all efforts to secure an orderly withdrawal from the European Union.
Mr. Johnson held talks with the Democratic Unionist Party, the pro-Brexit party whose 10 lawmakers prop up his government. The party’s leader said she believed a compromise could be reached and another party member present said a time-limited backstop was discussed.
“There are ways to deal with this issue if there is a willingness on both sides,” Arlene Foster said.
While she agreed the Withdrawal Agreement and the backstop were effectively dead, she said a “sensible way forward” was possible if the Irish government agreed to engage. The backstop would force Britain to obey some EU rules if no other way could be found to keep the land border open between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. Dublin says this is crucial to maintaining peace on the island.
