EU unconvinced by Johnson's fresh bid to remove Brexit backstop

The prime minister appears to be open to a device similar to the backstop that he can rebadge as a concession. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/ReutersBoris Johnson has written to the EU suggesting the backstop could be replaced by some form of commitment to prevent a hard Irish border in his first major move to explain the UK government’s new position to Brussels.Ahead of talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, Johnson released a four-page letter setting out his position that the backstop