Boris Johnson: Irish customs checks will be 'reality' after Brexit bbc.com

Boris Johnson says the "reality" of Brexit is there will need to be customs checks on the island of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

But the PM rejected claims that would effectively mean a hard border, in the form of a series of customs posts set five or 10 miles back.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A sovereign united country must have a single customs territory."

He refused to give details, but said formal proposals would be made soon.