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Boris Johnson expected to meet Leo Varadkar amid reports of UK general election

British prime minister Boris Johnson is opposed to the backstop that remains key to a Brexit deal with the EU
British prime minister Boris Johnson is opposed to the backstop that remains key to a Brexit deal with the EU British prime minister Boris Johnson is opposed to the backstop that remains key to a Brexit deal with the EU
By Michael McHugh and Press Association

British prime minister Boris Johnson may meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar next week.

Mr Varadkar said he will listen to alternatives to the border backstop as he disclosed details of the proposed encounter during an event earlier today.

The news comes amid mounting speculation of a general election if MPs attempting to block a no-deal Brexit manage to defeat the British government in a parliamentary vote this week.

The BBC has reported Mr Johnson will hold an unscheduled cabinet meeting this afternoon and "live discussions" about a snap election are taking place.

The future of the border is expected to be high on the agenda in any discussions between Mr Varadkar and Mr Johnson.

Officials are working on two possible dates.

Mr Varadkar said: "Of course, I would listen to any proposals that the British prime minister may have to achieve that by an alternative means and we provide for alternative arrangements in the joint political declaration.

Read More: Brexit: How this week could unfold as MPs try to stop no deal

"The difficulty is that anything we have seen so far, when it comes to alternative arrangements, do something very different.

"They just manage a border, they facilitate tariffs, they facilitate checks, they facilitate controls but try to do it in a way that is invisible and unobtrusive, and that is better than nothing but it is not the outcome that we want to achieve."

Mr Johnson has said he wants to scrap the backstop.

Mr Varadkar has been staunch in his defence of the proposal, which was part of a draft agreement between Theresa May's administration and the EU.

The taoiseach told RTÉ: "I am always willing to listen to any proposal that a British prime minister has.

"The backstop is a means to an end.

"It is there to ensure that we continue to have frictionless trade north and south, that there is no physical infrastructure, no checks, no controls, no tariffs.

"We want that to continue to be the case. It has been the case since 1992, we want that to continue."