France now sees 'no deal' as baseline Brexit scenario - Elysee source

Reuters
Updated

PARIS, Aug 21 (Reuters) - France believes 'no-deal' is now the most likely Brexit scenario after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanded the European Union reopen the divorce deal and drop the Irish backstop, an official in President Macron's office said on Wednesday.

Johnson said on Tuesday that the backstop - an insurance policy to keep the Irish border open after Britain leaves the European Union - was "anti-democratic", and demanded its removal from the stalled divorce deal.

"The scenario that is now becoming the most likely is the no-deal scenario," the official said.

"If the United Kingdom considers that having a backstop is absolutely excluded, that is its right, but in that case it limits the possibility of reaching an agreement."

(Reporting by Michel Rose Writing by Mathieu Rosemain Editing by Richard Lough)