Government ‘satisfied’ with Brexit backstop

The Government says it is “fully satisfied” with a backstop deal for a frictionless border after Brexit — despite suggestions this pact may lie outside Britain’s withdrawal treaty with the EU.

There have been fears in recent days that Ireland’s so-called bulletproof deal for no fresh border with the North may be watered down in any final Brexit deal text.

Britain is finalising its withdrawal terms from the EU, but there are suggestions the promise on the border will lie outside of these.