Johnson says no-deal exit unlikely

Britain's Conservative Party leadership contest front-runner Boris Johnson has backtracked on his previous comments made on Brexit negotiations, saying there is only a "million-to-one" chance that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union without a divorce deal.

Just a day after he stoked concern by promising in a radio interview to leave the EU on Oct 31 "come what may, do or die" with a no-deal Brexit, Johnson stated he did not believe that was where Britain would "end up".

In a Conservative party hustings on Wednesday evening, Johnson said: "It's absolutely vital that we prepare for a no-deal outcome if we're going to get the deal that we need.