BREAKING: Michel Barnier says temporary “backstop” plans for Irish border after Brexit can’t apply to whole of U.K. https://t.co/l1LGKrEUmc pic.twitter.com/aZdUUN5WoJ

— Bloomberg Brexit (@Brexit) June 8, 2018

Michel Barnier says “our backstop cannot be extended to whole of the UK… what is feasible for the territory of Northern Ireland, is not feasible for the whole UK”. May has said she will never accept this. Going well…

UPDATE:

Michel Barnier appears to have made his calculation: Britain will capitulate on everything, the ratchet is too powerful. He wants UK-wide EEA membership PLUS customs union and appears to think he can get it. If not, Northern Ireland has to be hived off

— Tom McTague (@TomMcTague) June 8, 2018

May cannot allow this to happen…

UPDATE II: Shambolic Barnier then forced to clarify:

Statement by @MichelBarnier “To avoid any confusion between the EU backstop & the UK customs paper: I reiterate that our backstop cannot apply to whole UK. 4 freedoms are indivisible. This is not a rejection of the UK customs paper on which discussions continue.” #Brexit pic.twitter.com/cp2fOsn7Ab

— EC in UK (@EUlondonrep) June 8, 2018