Boris Johnson says no-deal Brexit 'would be failure'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that a no-deal Brexit would be "a failure of statecraft".

He said he wanted a Brexit deal on October 18 and he was "absolutely undaunted" by attempts by parliament to block a no-deal exit.

Johnson is in Dublin for his first meeting with Ireland's prime minister Leo Varadkar since July.

He said he was bringing ideas on ways to resolve the Irish border backstop but that a breakthrough was unlikely on Monday.

"I have one message that I want to land with you today, Leo, that is I want to find a deal, I want to get a deal," Johnson said. "Like you I've looked carefully at no-deal, I've assessed its consequences both for our country and yours."

"And yes, of course, we could do it, the UK could certainly get through it but be in no doubt that outcome would be a failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible," Johnson said.