London, October 4 (RHC)-- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled his long-awaited plan to leave the European Union, claiming the United Kingdom is prepared for a no-deal Brexit. Under Johnson’s plan, Northern Ireland would leave the EU Customs Union in 2021 along with the rest of the U.K. but could keep its free-flowing border with the Irish Republic by maintaining EU trade rules.
Johnson outlined his plan at a conference of his ruling Conservative Party. He told the audience: "This is not an anti-European party. This is not an anti-European country. We are European. We love Europe. I love Europe, anyway. I love it.”
In Brussels, the head of the European Parliament’s steering committee on Brexit, Philippe Lamberts, called Johnson’s plan “inconsistent” and warned that a disastrous no-deal Brexit is looming. Lamberts said: “He claims to love Europe, to embrace Europe — by leaving it. Come on. How can this be serious? So what we are confronted with is a nationalist.”
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said that the prime minister would seek to suspend Parliament again — from October 8 to 14 — ahead of the October 31 deadline for Britain to leave the EU.