Boris Johnson is “confident” of reaching a new agreement with the European Union before Britain is due to leave on October 31 - arguing there is “bags of time” for Brussels to change its position.
The Prime Minister has so far refused to open negotiations with the bloc unless the Northern Ireland backstop is dropped from Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement, something the EU side has refused to countenance.
However, he said there were “conversations going on the whole time” and suggested a new agreement could be found if the EU showed “flexibility” on the issue.
It’s 84 days until the scheduled Brexit leaving date, which was delayed amid a stalemate in the UK.
“(The Irish backstop) is the problem, it’s totally unacceptable, we need change on that, once we get change on that I think we’re at the races and I think there’s a good deal to be done,” he said.
“We can’t go down that route, but there’s every possibility for the EU to show flexibility and there’s bags of time for them to do it and I’m confident they will.”
However he was adamant there could be no more delay beyond Halloween, and urged MPs to “get on and deliver” Brexit as he repeatedly refused to rule out bypassing parliament to force through a no-deal break.
His warning came amid reports voting in a general election could take place within days of Britain’s EU withdrawal, if the government loses a no-confidence motion when the Commons returns in September.
There has been growing outrage among MPs opposed to no-deal at the prospect the prime minister could, if he is defeated, try to delay an election until after Britain has left on October 31.
The plan, said to be the brainchild of Johnson’s controversial adviser Dominic Cummings, is intended to prevent rebel Tories and opposition parties thwarting a no- deal, but has been denounced as “anti-democratic” by opponents.
In a BBC interview on Thursday, the Prime Minister repeatedly sidestepped questions as to whether he would try to bypass the Commons and simply “dig in” at No 10.
He insisted that parliament had already voted to trigger the Article 50 withdrawal process and that it was now up to MPs to honour the result of the 2016 referendum.
“I think what everybody wants to see, including my friends and colleagues in parliament, is us deliver on the mandate of the people,” he said.
“I think that’s what the voters want, I think it’s what Parliament should do and that means coming out of the EU on October 31.
“I think that what MPs should do and what I think they’ve already voted to do when triggering Article 50 and reconfirmed several times, is honour the mandate of the people and leave the EU on October 31.”
Earlier, Downing Street aides suggested polling in a general election could take place within a matter of days of the UK leaving if MPs compel Mr Johnson to go to the country, according to the Financial Times.