'Temporary Brexit backstop to solve Irish border issue not acceptable', Verhofstadt says

Britain's plan for a temporary customs "backstop" to solve the Irish border issue is "not acceptable" and any fall-back option cannot be time-limited, the European Parliament's chief Brexit co-ordinator has told MPs in the UK.

Guy Verhofstadt said the Government's position that the backstop of continuing UK alignment with the EU customs union would cease by the end of 2021 if no other solution was found left him "puzzled".