[Carth]

I keep seeing it mentioned that the EU are adamant that the 'backstop' remains in the current withdrawal agreement, but "is willing to look at alternatives, but that an insurance policy like the backstop must be in place".

I was under the impression everyone has been looking at an alternative for ages, but nobody has found one. Has Boris found something that's 'almost' good enough that the EU are considering, and this is why they're all playing things down until it gets sorted?