The Irish backstop emerged as a key point of contention between the British Government and the European Union. Refusal from Brussels to renegotiate the terms of the insurance policy has fuelled concerns Brexit negotiations will end in a not deal but top Tory representative Paul Thomson suggested a solution could still be found before the October 31 deadline. Paul Thomson, vice-president of the Conservative Party in France group, told RT UK: “The two candidates to take over from Theresa May have said clearly, and even more clearly as the days go by, that the deal Mrs May has negotiated is not acceptable.

“I think a modification on the issue of Irish security, if it were substantial – like the introduction of a time limit of three, four or five years – would be enough to have everyone agree.

“But if an agreement is not reached then a no deal Brexit on October 31 is on the horizon.”

Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson has repeatedly condemned the proposed agreement and insisted concerns over the potential return of a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic could be assuaged thanks to the implementation of technological solutions.

Mr Johnson branded the deal a “dead letter” and urged Brussels to agree to further negotiations to ensure a new arrangement is in place before the deadline.

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Mr Thomson suggested the former Foreign Secretary’s hard stance, with his commitment to deliver the UK out of the EU “with or without a deal,” has dialled up pressure on the bloc.

He continued: “The Europan Union has a lot to lose with a no deal Brexit.

“It’s a real threat today because Boris Johnson has clearly said that he doesn’t wish a no deal but he is absolutely determined to make sure the UK leaves on October 31 if he is elected.

“Jeremy Hunt has taken a very similar line. This has had the pressure rising in Brussels and the EU27.”

While previously suggesting they would not put additional checks at the border with Northern Ireland, Dublin published a series of contingency measures including plans to introduce new inspection posts to check livestock on Tuesday. 

The new checks, designed to protect the European Union’s single market, would be positioned on or close to the Northern Irish border if Britain leaves the bloc without an agreement.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar previously maintained he would do his utmost to protect the EU’s single market if Britain leaves without a deal – a subtle hint at the need to implement border checks.

The document reads: “A no-deal Brexit will be highly disruptive and will have profound political, economic and legal implications, first and foremost for the UK, including most significantly Northern Ireland, as well as having significant impacts on Ireland and the rest of the EU.

“In a no-deal scenario, it will be impossible for the UK to maintain the current seamless arrangements with the EU across the full range of sectors, from justice and security cooperation, to transport connectivity, to trade flows and supply chains.

“A no-deal Brexit will be an unprecedented event, bringing with it disruption and severe negative economic impacts.”

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Earlier this week Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay infuriated Michel Barnier by suggesting that its in the EU’s interest to avoid no deal to protect the Irish economy.

Mr Barclay was accused of “treating his trip as a job interview for a Boris Johnson government” by one EU official familiar with the discussions.

An EU diplomat described the current mood in Brussels as “bleak”, adding: “Neither Hunt or Johnson have shown us that they have a plan to avoid a no deal.”

After his meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Barclay said: “The EU also recognises that no deal is in neither side’s interest, that no deal particularly, if one looks at the asymmetric impact across Europe, particularly impacts in Ireland.

“I think the impact of no deal is greater to the Irish economy than it is to the UK, so the EU wants to avoid no deal just as much as the UK wants to avoid no deal.”

He claimed Irish exports to continental Europe would be equally impacted as British goods by queues at the Port of Dover.

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