British Prime Ministerial candidate Boris Johnson says he would need EU cooperation to avoid a hard Irish border or “crippling” tariffs on trade in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The “backstop” is an insurance policy Ireland wants to implement to ensure its border remains open to trade, people and services in the event of a no deal.
Mr Johnson says he could persuade Brussels to resolve the Irish border issue, and added he will open discussion regarding a free trade agreement as soon as he is elected.