EU backstop proposal is a convenient way for No 10 to wash its hands of Northern Ireland

SOME years ago, my solicitor presented for signing the ground lease for my house. A piece of landscaped land opposite was mentioned and the lease stated that I was responsible to maintain it until the relevant authority (DoE) adopted it.

Having been assured that this would happen in the near f uture, I signed. The near f uture never arrived and the ground remains unadopted to this day.

Memories of this came rushing back to me as I listened to the latest developments to come out of the Dublin-Brussels axis.

Apparently, the UK Brexit negotiators have agreed the ‘ backstop’ position that Northern Ireland would, in ef fect, remain inside the EU until a solution to the border is found. No one seems to have picked up on this.

The phrase ‘ until a solution is found’ is a wonderful example of European ambiguity. It would mean that Brussels and Dublin get their way. The border moves to the Irish Sea. The UK negotiators are off the hook, af ter all it ’s ‘only’ until a solution is found.

Northern Ireland is f urther isolated from the UK, and the UK Government can put the problem on the back burner for the foreseeable f uture while wringing their hands and assuring us that they are doing their utmost to resolve the matter.

If it can’t be resolved now, how will it be resolved when the UK is out of the EU?

Make no mistake — if it is in the self-interest of Britain, Northern Ireland can go whistle and apply for Irish passports.

R HUGHES By email