|
LONDON, Aug. 25-- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday the chances of Britain reaching a Brexit deal with the European Union are improving. He used interviews with a range of British broadcast media at the G7 summit in France to give a Brexit update as the Oct. 31 departure date gets ever closer. In Britain politicians opposed to Britain remaining in the bloc, as well as those opposed to a no-deal departure, continued Sunday to discuss their strategies as the re-opening of Parliament on September 3 nears. Johnson held talks in France with Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, their first face-to-face meeting since Johnson moved into 10 Downing Street. Sky News reported Johnson told Tusk he would prefer Britain to leave the EU with a deal, and is willing to sit down with the EU, but branded the Irish border backstop issue as anti-democratic. Johnson also said he will not stop the British parliament from debating Brexit. Sky said nothing substantive or new emerged in the talks between the two. An EU official said the two leaders will meet again on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York next month. The EU official also said the Brexit ball remains fully in Britain's court. During the meeting Tusk agreed Britain and Europe would remain close regardless of what happens after Oct. 31. Johnson, in his interviews, continued to insist he plans to go ahead with Britain's departure by the Oct. 31, with or without a deal. | 
