Boris Johnson reveals his 'final offer' to the EU on Brexit

• Boris Johnson reveals his final Brexit offer to the EU.
• The plan, the key elements of which were leaked on Wednesday, would require new checks in between the UK and Ireland.
• Senior EU figures rejected the plan before Johnson even announced it.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

LONDON - Prime Minister Boris Johnson has submitted his "final offer" to the European Union, as time runs out for the United Kingdom to agree a new Brexit deal with the EU.

In a letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday, Johnson insisted that he "wants a deal" but warned that there is "very little time" left to secure one.

The plan, key elements of which were leaked on Tuesday, is designed to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

However, Johnson has admitted that it will inevitably create some new checks on goods moving in and out of Northern Ireland.

Read more: An offer they will have to refuse: Boris Johnson is trying to force the EU into rejecting a Brexit deal

What has Johnson offered the EU?

In the plan, sent to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday, there would be two new borders after Brexit: a customs border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and a regulatory border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

This is because the Northern Ireland would leave the customs union with the rest of the UK but continue to follow swathes of European single market rules covering agricultural and industrial goods.

This temporary arrangement would kick in at the end of the transition period in December 2020 and last for at least four years. Once four years has passed, politicians in the Northern Irish Assembly would vote whether to continue following EU single market rules, or cut regulatory ties with Brussels and converge with the rest of the UK.

The PM is accused of a sham negotiation

The EU will almost certainly reject the proposals when they arrive in Brussels.

Numerous experts have said they are unviable, with Peter Foster, the journalist who first revealed them, describing them as "extraordinary" and adding: "I cannot for the life of me see how this flies; or could ever be intended to fly."

The plan falls short of upholding the commitment made by the UK government when it was led by Theresa May, to make sure there are no physical checks on the island of Ireland whatsoever as a result of Brexit.

Jonathan Powell, who represented the UK government in Northern Ireland peace talks, said the proposals were "not serious" and indicated that Johnson was actually trying to avoid an agreement with the EU so no deal takes place.

And Helen McEntee, the Irish government's Minister for European Affairs, said the proposals were "unacceptable" as they breached the UK government's previous commitment to avoid physical checks on the island of Ireland.

Read more: These business owners on the Irish border fear a no-deal Brexit could soon wreck their livelihoods

Read more: 'The guns are back out again': Northern Ireland fears a Brexit border will escalate violence

Under law passed last month, Johnson must secure parliamentary approval for a Brexit with deal with EU by mid-October, or request a fresh delay to the UK's exit through an extension to Article 50.

However, the prime minister has said he will not delay Brexit.

On Wednesday, he told Conservative party conference: "We will work for a deal with our EU friends; but whatever happens we must come out by the end of October."

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