So Johnson has 30 days to come up with an alternative to the backstop......

[Bearbehind]

This will be interesting to watch!

Theresa May must be laughing her head off.

Haha Merkel really wrong-footed Johnson didn't she! Absolutely brilliant, especially the expression on his face! I'm glad she's put him under time pressure to come up with a solution, let's see him squirm.

Wonder how the Macron meeting will go today?

He’s got 30 days to invent, produce and implement a technological solution

I don't read it that way. Johnson has 30 days to present a workable solution only. Nothing said about produce and implement in 30 days.

What is workable and what is not is where the difference of opinion will arise. Just in the same way as for the WA. Some thought it was good and some thought it was bad. Johnson's get out will be;

"We presented many workable solutions, but Germany rejected them all"

Even if a workable solution is agreed (doubtful) there would have to be an agreed time frame for production and implementation. ie the backstop would have a time limit which is what leave supporters wanted from the WA.

Has has to come up with something now, or admit defeat

Defeat or not what is the difference if UK leaves EU without a deal?

the backstop would have a time limit which is what leave supporters wanted from the WA.

But that’s the whole point of the backstop - it can’t have a time limit because it’s then not a backstop.

That’s why whatever he comes up with has to be possible immediately, otherwise it’s just a plan that might work with nothing in place if it doesn’t.

TM has already been down the road of the mysterious ‘technological solution’ - it means nothing until it’s a reality.

Put a timelimit on it and you need a backstop on the backstop.
A time limited backstop isn't a backstop.

....Oh! ....Er?????? .....You Know. ....THING!!!!

......Alternative Arrragements. ...Yes!!!! Alternatives. There must be loads. I mean Congestion Charge. Cameras and .....things.

....And A Bridge. Of some sorts. From somewhere to ......somewhere else!

Yes.

That’s why whatever he comes up with has to be possible immediately

I don't read it that way. Workable solution was what had to be proposed in 30 days. I don't see where the production and implementation is included?

If the 30 days was meant to include production and implementation then it is not possible. No way can there be a solution that appears in 30 days when there has never even been a hint of a solution since 29 March 2017 when Article 50 was invoked.

There are many thousands of miles of borders all over the World. Not one of them are friction less.

Hope I am wrong, but if such a solution exists why are none of the other borders around the World using such solution? Also if there is a miracle technological solution how will T May explain her decision to include a backstop in the WA at all as such solution removes the need for a backstop?

Johnson is running the clock down and Merkel is wanting to know if UK is leaving EU deal or no deal before 31 Oct 2019.

People do realise it's not just Boris sat in an office trying to come up with something, and there's a team of people he most likely gives loose guidance to and nods? Not that that offers more hope, but you never know

The same people advising Theresa May.

Merkel is quite a canny operator and I can imagine she is at the “I don’t give a shiny shit because I want to protect the EU”.

Which is a perfectly valid position to be in. I commend her for not fawning to Boris and look forward to seeing what comes out of the Macron meeting. Just because I like seeing Boris Johnson put back in his gold plated box.

I don't read it that way. Workable solution was what had to be proposed in 30 days. I don't see where the production and implementation is included?

As I said above, a workable solution has to be available immediately otherwise the backstop will still be required if it fails.

What you are proposing is no different to what already exists ie, we come up with something so the backstop is never enforced.

Just because I like seeing Boris Johnson put back in his gold plated box

How does Johnson being to look an arse avert a no deal. Is there a caveat in what has been discussed that states if solution is not found in 30 days then Brexit is cancelled by default?

I can't see where the excitement comes from.

Johnson runs the clock down and maybe able to avoid a Vote of No Confidence by saying the 30 days is not yet expired. By the time it is it will be 21 September 2019. That leaves 40 days to 31 Oct 2019. Could a VONC and a GE be squeezed completed in 40 days?

As I said above, a workable solution has to be available immediately otherwise the backstop will still be required if it fails

Does that not assume the WA as currently drafted is agreed by Parliament?

If no solution is found in 30 days how does that prevent a no deal departure from EU on 31 Oct 2019?

Maybe I have missed something?

How does Johnson being to look an arse avert a no deal

Please quote where I said it would avert no deal.

I just like seeing Boris Johnson humiliated. Because he’s a narcissistic prick who will never learn. A bit like David Cameron who ran away to his shepherd hut.

I’m expecting that there either be a no deal or Boris Johnson will somehow tweak Theresa may’s existing deal around the margins and will spin it as a major change/great victory for him.

I genuinely think this is a massive shit show and can only laugh rather than cry at the state of our country.

This is to avoid no deal.

If a solution which is possible immediately can be found then the back stop potentially isn’t needed.

However if such a solution existed it would have been suggested before.

If BJ can’t come up with anything in 30 days, which he won’t be able to, it’s the current WA or no deal

If BJ can’t come up with anything in 30 days, which he won’t be able to, it’s the current WA or no deal

That's my conclusion too.

Agree with @MysteryTrip - he’ll just run down the clock and present a crappy non-solution and say the EU doesn’t accept it.

I also hold Corbyn to blame as he knows other people command more support than him across a wide base but doesn’t step aside. I can see why other politicians do not want to work with him as he is a very polarising figure - even Labour cannot agree on him.

Mystery - I think the assumption is if we have a general election the EU will grant us a further extension.

I can't see where the excitement comes from

The excitement comes from the fact BJ actually has to come up with something now, or admit he can’t rather than just reeling off soundbites.

The sensible solution is to revoke article 50 and invest in making a border solution. When we have a border solution that will work, talk to EU and get on with it if people still want Brexit.

I just like seeing Boris Johnson humiliated. Because he’s a narcissistic prick who will never learn. A bit like David Cameron who ran away to his shepherd hut

Can't see those from the Eton club being the slightest bit bothered about what others think of them or afraid that someone might be smiling to themselves. They are all well off and are cushioned from any negative impact of Brexit or any other event in the UK

Can't see those from the Eton club being the slightest bit bothered about what others think of them or afraid that someone might be smiling to themselves. They are all well off and are cushioned from any negative impact of Brexit or any other event in the UK

Sadly true.

They have played him beautifully. 🇪🇺

Agree with @MysteryTripAgain. These guys don’t care. Like Trump doesn’t care if he lies or says things that are inconsistent. He just says: ‘What I meant was...’ people who support him don’t seem to care either.

The sensible solution is to revoke article 50 and invest in making a border solution

Revoke of Article 50 eliminates the border issue so no need to look for a solution. Can't see the EU being interested in pursuing a border solution after Article 50 has been revoked.

Such as suggestion would likely result in the same fear as the WA in that it could lock the UK into the CU and SM forever.