Northern Ireland could benefit greatly from a unique ‘dual status’ arrangement after Brexit

THE EU has stated its acceptance of Northern Ireland being made an exception to their “no special deals” principle in light of the Good Friday Agreement and the land border issue.

It has seemed to me for a long time now that Northern Ireland is potentially uniquely placed to act as a ‘dual status’ area — ie in Great Britain for political/ sovereignty purposes, while remaining in the EU’s single market and customs union arrangements for goods and services.

This potential dual status arrangement should earn support from unionists, after due consideration, as its effect will be to copper-fasten the status quo — given the much deeper ties between the two parts of the UK that would be created.

Importantly, Britain would be free to arrange its own trade deals, as envisaged under Brexit.

This potential ‘win-win’ solution seems to have received little attention to date. However, with a mutually acceptable solution to Brexit not yet appearing and time in short supply, might this alternative offer all concerned a face-saving approach that avoids the consequential losses that could flow from a ‘no deal’?

While not being a costless solution — or one that can be implemented by UK businesses without changes in structure, or on the ground — it would at least allow for the inevitable, long-term adjustments needed for business and agricultural supply lines to cope with the inevitable shift in trading patterns that Brexit will cause.

Perhaps a ‘cake and eat it’ approach, that so many in the UK have yearned for, is indeed available, but probably only to Northern Ireland.

PATRICK MCGLEENAN By email