Boris Johnson

In anticipation of (1) election as UK PM on Tuesday 23 July of Boris Johnson - who has said repeatedly that he intends to tear up the "Irish backstop" designed to avoid a hard Ireland-NI border post-Brexit - and (2) disruption of trade between Ireland and the UK that would inevitably result from the "no-deal" Brexit that Johnson champions, the European Commission is preparing a multi-billion-euro aid package for Ireland.

An unnamed senior EU diplomat is quoted as saying today that the EU would spend "whatever was necessary" to help the Irish government deal with the economic impact of a no-deal Brexit.

If Johnson becomes PM, will his views on Brexit moderate? Stay tuned.