Opinion

Political movement needed if we are to avoid a no-deal

The DUP is dismissing reports that it is shifting its position on Brexit but the reality is that if Boris Johnson is to secure a deal in the next few weeks then some movement is required.

According to The Times, the DUP is prepared to accept Northern Ireland abiding by some EU rules post-Brexit as part of a new arrangement to replace the backstop.

The paper also claims that the party has privately said it would drop its objection to regulatory checks in the Irish Sea and in return, Brussels would abandon its insistence on Northern Ireland remaining in a customs union with the EU.

Arlene Foster tweeted: ``We are keen to see a sensible deal but not one that divides the internal market of the UK. We will not support any arrangements that create a barrier to East West trade.''

She added: ''Anonymous sources lead to nonsense stories.''

The Times journalist who wrote the story is standing by it and pointing to the careful language used by Mrs Foster which he believes is a classic 'non-denial denial'.

It remains to be seen if the DUP is open to some alternative thinking in order to avoid a catastrophic no-deal but we must remember that the art of politics is finding solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

Mr Johnson also seems to be talking in more optimistic terms about securing a deal although it is difficult to know if this is based on substantive negotiations or if he is simply trying to demonstrate that he is unbowed by what has been a dreadful period.

There is no doubt the prime minister has seen his options greatly reduced.

He prorogued Parliament - unlawfully according to the Scottish courts - then lost his majority, failed to secure the general election he was banking on and is now bound by law to seek an extension from the EU to avoid a no-deal.

If he has decided that the best way of ensuring he keeps his pledge of leaving the EU by October 31 is to knuckle down and get an agreement then that should be viewed as a step in the right direction.

However, serious obstacles remain and time is short.