Boris Johnson news: Ireland government says it ‘cannot possibly’ accept PM's Brexit plan, as he faces fresh Jennifer Arcuri claims

The European Parliament has said it would veto Boris Johnson’s Brexit proposals, warning that they are “not even remotely acceptable” as a solution to the Irish border problem.

Speaking after a meeting of the legislature’s Brexit steering group, the parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the plans were “mainly a repackaging of the bad ideas that have already been floated in the past”.

A formal statement from his steering group said the proposals “do not match even remotely what was agreed as a sufficient compromise in the backstop”.

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Boris Johnson earlier told the Commons: “There will be no need for checks - or any infrastructure - at or near the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

Leo Varadkar, the Irish premier, welcomed that remark, but has pointed out that is “in contradiction” to what is in the Brexit plan published by Johnson yesterday.

A spokesperson for the Manufacturing Northern Ireland has told Business Insider the idea no new physical infrastructure would be needed was “nonsense”, saying it was not “feasible or possible” for businesses to carry out the customs checks required under the plan using existing infrastructure.

A spokesperson said: “SMEs do not have the capacity, capability or capital to do this. A food company in Dungannon would have to drive 50 miles to Belfast to get clearance. It’s just nonsense.”

Northern Ireland's Chief Constable has told Boris Johnson that it would not be possible to police the 300 crossing points of the Irish border with his current number of police officers.

Simon Byrne said his 30-minute conversation with the prime minister happened by video call on Friday.

“We were face to face on a video call for over half an hour," he said.

“It was a very open conversation trying to tell him we saw that it was nigh on impossible to try and police over 300 crossings with the amount of police officers we had.

“It was a candid conversation, he was responsive to what we said and at the end of the day, how it landed and what he thought... you’re going to have to ask him.”

During a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board earlier, Byrne said he had “made it clear” to the Northern Ireland Office that police will not “staff any form of border security” after the UK leaves the EU.

Byrne said he has even “taken legal advice” to make sure his officers are used for “legitimate” purposes – i.e. not border security.

“We have been working closely with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to understand our constitutional position in relation to any proposed changes to border arrangements, and I have been clear with the NIO in particular it will not be the role of the PSNI to staff any form of border security.

“We are clearly there to facilitate normality and day to day policing, but not to carry out custom checks and the function of other agencies in whatever proposal is or isn’t agreed in the next few weeks and indeed I have taken legal advice on that basis to confirm to me the independence of the office of Chief Constable and the duties I have to make sure that police officers are used for legitimate policing purpose.”

The European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt sets out why he cannot support Boris Johnson’s “old , bad ideas”.

A Tory peer has written to the speakers of both houses of parliament calling for Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings to be stripped of his pass for the Palace of Westminster, writes Andrew Woodcock.

Lord Hayward said it was “inappropriate” for Mr Cummings to be allowed to move freely around the building just six months after being found in contempt of parliament for refusing to give evidence to a committee of MPs investigating the Vote Leave referendum campaign, which he led.

In a letter to Lords Speaker Lord Fowler and the Commons’ John Bercow, Lord Hayward called for an urgent review of the issue of the pass and said they should consider withdrawing it until the contempt is “purged”.

Yet more Twitter sass, this time from the European Council president.

Donald Tusk said he was "unconvinced" by Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals.

Irish pharmaceutical bodies have not yet identified any shortages of medicines due to Brexit, the country's health minister has said.

Simon Harris, speaking on Thursday after meeting officials from regulatory bodies, said the situation was being constantly monitored and that there was no current shortage of medicine related to the UK's departure from the EU.

He said: "It's very important that we tell citizens, when it comes to monitoring the situation, that it won't end on the 31st of October, deal or no deal. This will continue to require ongoing vigilance as we make sure that the alternative supply routes are in place and continue to look at emergency contingency arrangements."

Some medicines, including those used to treat certain cancers, have a short shelf life and cannot be stockpiled, which has caused concern that care could be affected if supply routes are disrupted.

Delays at ports are expected post-Brexit as traders and customs officials adjust to the trade barriers between the UK and EU.

Women affected by controversial adjustments made to the state pension age which campaigners say unlawfully discriminates against women born in the 1950s have lost their landmark High Court battle against the government, writes Maya Oppenheim.

Nearly four million women have been affected by the changes which increased the state pension age from 60 to 66.

Women hit by the overhaul have lost their homes and some have even been forced into homelessness.

Punitive tariffs planned for scotch whisky exported to the US are "profoundly worrying", Nicola Sturgeon has said.

After the World Trade Organisation found, in May 2018, that the EU had given illegal subsidies to plane manufacturer Airbus, it gave Donald Trump the green light to impose tariffs on up to $7.5bn (£6.1bn) of goods from the bloc.

The Scotch Whisky Association has called on both sides to stand down their trade war, in the face of possible tariffs of 25 per cent.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We will continue to encourage the UK government to support a negotiated settlement to this.

"It is in no-one's interest to have trade wars like this - everyone ends up being a loser."

The British public would vote to stop Brexit if it was given the opportunity, says Irish premier Leo Varadkar, as he rejected Boris Johnson’s new plans, writes Rob Merrick.

“All the polls since prime minister Johnson became prime minister suggest that's what the British people actually want, but their political system isn't able to give them that choice,” Mr Varadkar said.

The comment comes after Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general, said a majority of MPs now supports a Final Say referendum – but warned it depends on Jeremy Corbyn to make it happen.