Britain's Johnson confronts EU doubts about new Brexit plan

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confronted scepticism from across Europe on Thursday as he sought to muster support for his new approach to avoiding a messy divorce at the end of the month.

Johnson warned that the EU's refusal to accept his "final" offer would see it share the blame for the damage that might come from an unregulated end to the 46-year relationship.

The British government on Wednesday submitted its proposal for a new withdrawal agreement from the European Union to back up Johnson's vow to pull his country out of the bloc on October 31.

But EU Council President Donald Tusk said "we remain open but still unconvinced" the plan can preserve an open border between British-run Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland after Brexit, a key point of disagreement.

The European Parliament's Brexit steering group also dismissed what it called "these last-minute proposals" as neither "credible (or) legally operable".

"The proposals do not address the real issues that need to be resolved," it said in a statement.

Johnson has until the end of the month to try to shore up support for a fresh approach to end the three-year political impasse since the Brexit referendum.

His inability to get everyone on board quickly would result in either a crash exit for Britain, despite worries over the potential economic damage, or a third Brexit delay this year.

Johnson reaffirmed on Thursday he had no intention of seeking an extension despite parliament's instruction to do so should he fail to secure a compromise over the next two weeks.

"We have shown great flexibility with our European friends," Johnson told lawmakers one day after publishing the details of his long-awaited plan.

"If our European neighbours choose not to show a corresponding willingness to reach a deal, then we shall have to leave on October 31 without an agreement -- and we are ready to do so.

"That outcome would be a failure of statecraft for which all parties will be held responsible."
"Ireland will do what is necessary to protect the single market."
"We need to move forward at pace, intensively," he told BBC radio. "All sides recognise that the alternative, no-deal, is disruptive."