In an interview in Cornwall during a hospital visit on Monday, Boris Johnson claimed he remained 'confident' that the EU would shift its position on the Northern Ireland backstop, allowing a Brexit deal to be agreed before 31 October. When asked whether progress would be made during his talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron later this week, Johnson replied: 'Well that is, I'm afraid, very much up to our friends and I hope that they will compromise.' Brexit: Boris Johnson says he is confident EU will shift backstop position - live news