Unionists join forces to fight EU Brexit plan
Idea of NI remaining in customs union rejected May says no PM could sign off on proposals
UNIONISTS of all shades joined forces last night to reject the EU’s draft legal text on Brexit as a threat to Northern Ireland.
The DUP, Ulster Unionists, TUV and PUP all dismissed any suggestion that Northern Ireland could effectively remain in the EU customs union after Brexit.
DUP leader Arlene Foster described the idea as “constitutionally unacceptable” and claimed it would be “economically catastrophic for Northern Ireland”.
And Theresa May told the House of Commons the proposal threatened the make-up of the UK — and no Prime Minister could accept it.
UNIONISTS of all shades have united in opposition to the EU’s draft legal text on Brexit.
The DUP, Ulster Unionists, TUV and PUP all strongly rejected the suggestion of Northern Ireland effectively remaining in a customs union after Brexit if the UK fails to find technological or diplomatic solutions to keeping the border open.
Theresa May told the House of Commons the proposal threatened the make-up of the UK and no Prime Minister could accept it.
But nationalists welcomed Brussels’ text with Sinn Fein urging the EU and the Irish government to “stand firm” in the face of opposition from the Tories and the DUP.
Unionists denounced the proposal for a common regulation area on the island of Ireland, and insisted that it threatened the UK’s constitutional integrity.
DUP leader Arlene Foster described the idea as “constitutionally unacceptable” and claimed it would be “economically catastrophic for Northern Ireland”.
She welcomed Mrs May’s commitment that the government would not allow any new border in the Irish Sea and that Northern Ireland would continue to have “unfettered access” to the British market. Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said the text was “nothing short of a move by the EU to annex Northern Ireland” and said it was “a complete non-starter for unionists”.
He added: “No British government could accept this. It demonstrates complete and utter contempt for Northern Ireland`s constitutional position and also for the Belfast Agreement.”
TUV leader Jim Allister said the “audacity” of Brussels in demanding a border down the Irish Sea was “staggering for anyone unfamiliar with the Machiavellian processes of the EU”.
He claimed it was partly driven by a “malevolent attempt to derail Brexit”. On the issue of the border, Brussels’ draft text spells out in detail how the principle of “regulatory alignment” agreed in December would possibly be implemented.
It states that if no other solutions are found “the territory of Northern Ireland, excluding the
territorial waters of the United Kingdom ... shall be considered to be part of the customs territory of the (European) Union”.
It suggests that EU and UK customs authorities should jointly oversee movements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, while Europe would retain control over aspects of taxation and state aid here.
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the text represented “an act of bad faith on the part of Brussels toward addressing challenges facing the border in a fair and sensible fashion”.
He continued: “The suggestion that Northern Ireland would be an ‘autonomous’ EU customs territory alongside the Republic of Ireland after Brexit would break up the Union and disadvantage our citizens.
“It is an aggressive proposal which proves Brussels is only serious about the parts of the Belfast Agreement that suits its agenda. The principle of consent would be left in tatters.”
UUP MEP Jim Nicholson said the proposals would have “devastating implications” for the UK’s constitutional integrity. They showed “a tremendous level of ignorance of the Belfast Agreement” and “a disregard for the principle of consent”, he added.
Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill said the rejection of Brussels’ proposals represented “an appalling display of arrogance” by the DUP and Mrs May.
“The Tories and DUP have no right to hold 27 EU nations to ransom,” Ms O’Neill said.
“They have no right to play fast and loose with an internationally-binding treaty such as the Good Friday Agreement.
“The other EU nations, and particularly the Dublin government, need to continue to stand firm in the face of that agenda and make it clear that we will not allow our future to be sacrificed on the altar of Tory-DUP arrogance and extremism.”
The Progressive Unionists also rejected the draft document.
“We joined as a United Kingdom and we shall leave as a United Kingdom,” the party said.
“Any attempt by the European Commission and the Irish Government to ride roughshod over the democratic will of the people is to undermine the constitutional integrity of our great nation and an attack on the international treaties which bound it.”
SDLP MLA Claire Hanna welcomed the EU’s “cast iron commitment” to protecting the Good Friday Agreement and preventing a hard border. She said it was a time for “calm heads and hard choices” by Brexiteers who needed to face reality.
“They either go for alignment with the customs union and the single market to protect these islands — or they support the EU on the common regulatory area. It is just fantastical to pretend that there’s some other mystery option — there isn’t,” she said.