Boris Johnson met with DUP leader Arlene Foster last night and will meet with the five main Stormont parties later today. Brexit, specifically the Irish backstop is set to be a hot topic for today’s discussions as the issue over what will happen at the land border of Ireland has caused deep divisions in Northern Ireland. Mr Johnson has vowed to scrap the backstop, but EU leaders appear reluctant to agree to do this. 

Ahead of the visit, the Tory Prime Minister said he was going to try and get the Northern Irish assembly back up and running.

He said: “The people of Northern Ireland have now been without an executive and assembly for two years and six months – put simply this is much, much too long.

“I am going to do everything in my power to make the ongoing talks to restore devolution a success.”

The trip to Northern Ireland is the last of his three-day tour around the UK’s devolved nations, having already visited Scotland and Wales.

Ben Habib, MEP for London, has criticised Remainers for “hijacking” the no deal Brexit scenario and convincing “everyone” that no deal is a disaster.

He also directly accused them of driving down the pound.

The Brexit Party MEP said: “The pound is down because Remainers, including former PM Theresa May and the EU machinery, have convinced everyone – including the markets – that no deal is a disaster.

“They have successfully hijacked that scenario. They are wrong.”

The pound slumped to a 28-month low this week as currency markets react to Mr Johnson’s ramped up no deal rhetoric.

Sterling dropped to $1.2122 against the US dollar and fell sharply against the euro to below €1.10.

Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets.com said: “The message is clear that the Boris regime is prepared to take this to the wire.

“In may ways it’s his only choice.”

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8.24am update: UK car firms have ‘spent £330m on no deal measures’

UK car manufacturers have ramped up their warnings of a no deal Brexit, saying they have spent £330million collectively to mitigate the effects of a swift EU exit.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the industry body, said the money was spent on stockpiling materials, securing warehouse capacity, additional insurance and training in new customs procedures.

8.13am update: Dominic Raab heads to Asia to faciliate a post-Brexit trade boost 

The new foreign secretary is heading to the Far East in a bid to strengthen ties with countries around the world in prepartion for the UK’s departure from the EU.

He said Britain needs to “raise our game” after Brexit, aiming to improve trade links. 

Mr Raab said: “For too long, our trade focus has been on Europe.

“”We need to expand our horizons, and raise our game.

That means grasping the enormous global opportunities for the UK – and my first trip as foreign secretary will look to strengthen our friendships across Asia.

“This region is already worth £36bn per year in trade with the UK – and there are opportunities for us to boost that trade to benefit UK businesses and consumers.

“I’ll also be looking at how we can strengthen our regional security cooperation, and work together on global challenges like climate change.”

8am update: Two year transition period with EU claim is ‘way off’

Sources close to the Prime Minister have played down the prospect of a two year transition period if a deal is reached with the EU by October 31, according to the BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith. 

It is reported that “two years is ‘way off'”.

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