The French President has told Boris Johnson the EU will not tear up the Brexit deal negotiated by Theresa May. Emmanuel Macron told the Prime Minister in Paris there could not be a "reshuffling" of the Withdrawal Agreement - but he left open the possibility of making some changes to the deal.
He backed the 30-day timescale suggested by German leader Angela Merkel on Wednesday for the UK to come forward with its proposals but warned the Irish backstop - the major stumbling block - was indispensable.
"We will not find a new Withdrawal Agreement within 30 days that will be very different from the existing one," he said as he spoke alongside the Prime Minister at Elysee Palace.
In an effort to avoid the EU being blamed if a no-deal Brexit is the outcome on October 31, he said failure to reach an acceptable deal would be "a political decision to be taken by the Prime Minister, it's not our decision".
Mr Johnson has demanded the backstop - a contingency plan aimed at ensuring a soft border with Ireland in all circumstances - should be scrapped.
Mike Graham spoke with Katie Perrior, former communications director at Number 10 and a former adviser to Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
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