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EU: Johnson fails to offer realistic alternative to Irish backstop

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EU: Johnson fails to offer realistic alternative to Irish backstop

European Council President Donald Tusk rebuffed U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's proposal to scrap the current Irish backstop solution, saying the proposal lacked "realistic alternatives."

Johnson had urged Tusk to replace the Irish backstop plan in the existing Brexit deal with a pledge to introduce "alternative arrangements," hoping that it would push negotiations forward and help avoid a disorderly departure from the EU.

"The backstop is an insurance to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland unless and until an alternative is found," Tusk tweeted. "Those against the backstop and not proposing realistic alternatives in fact support reestablishing a border. Even if they do not admit it."

Natasha Bertaud, the EC's spokeswoman, said Johnson's letter fails to offer a legal operational solution to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, The Guardian reported.

Sterling was down 0.4% around 8 a.m. ET.

Johnson has pledged to leave the EU on Oct. 31, with or without a deal.