Foster: there is a third way on Brexit
As May secures Brussels backing for her deal, DUP is adamant that key elements can still be renegotiated Prime Minister set to visit NI amid calls for changes to troubled plan
THE DUP remained adamant last night that it is not too late to make changes to the UK’s Brexit deal.
Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds urged the Government to find a “third way” between a no-deal Brexit and the withdrawal agreement Theresa May is set to put to a divided Parliament.
But the Prime Minister, who is expected in Northern Ireland in the next 48 hours, called on MPs to back her deal after it was approved at a historic summit in Brussels by the leaders of the remaining 27 EU states.
NIGEL Dodds has echoed DUP leader Arlene Foster’s call for the Government to find a “third way” between a no-deal Brexit and the withdrawal agreement Theresa May is set to put to a divided Parliament next month.
Writing in today’s Belfast Telegraph, the DUP deputy leader describes the Brexit deal struck by Theresa May — who is expected to visit Northern Ireland in the next 48 hours — with the EU as “the worst possible outcome” for the UK.
“There is a better way,” Mr Dodds (below) writes. “Rather than waste any more time putting forward false choices, we need the Government to get on with securing a better deal.
“Our party wants a good deal for the United Kingdom, a deal which delivers upon the referendum result and a deal which ensures that Northern Ireland leaves with the rest of the UK.
“But it is not this deal. It is not a deal at any price.”
The DUP’s Westminster leader said the UK has “ended up with the worst possible outcome”.
“Leave voters are outraged at the betrayal of Brexit and Remain voters are asking what on Earth is the point of losing all our say, but still taking the EU’s rules.
“The more people pore over the details, the more problematic the whole mish-mash becomes.
“The political declaration, despite previous promises, does not set out a clear future relationship and raises significant issues in its own right.
“And the legally binding withdrawal agreement is fatally and fundamentally flawed.”
The DUP — on whose support the Prime Minister depends for her majority in Parliament — has vowed to oppose the draft withdrawal agreement with the EU over its concerns about the Irish backstop arrangement, which is designed to prevent the imposition of a hard border.
The party says it cannot support any Brexit arrangements — such as the backstop — which treat Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the UK.
The North Belfast MP’s call for a rethink comes a day after Mrs May’s planned withdrawal agreement was agreed by EU leaders meeting in Brussels.
But a raft of European leaders have insisted that there will be no more negotiations, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who insisted that the deal agreed by the EU 27 was final.
Mrs May’s deal must now go to the House of Commons for approval — which is by no means certain.
In addition to the 10 DUP MPs, more than 80 Conservative MPs have indicated their opposition to Mrs May’s deal, as have the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party.
Speaking to the Andrew Marr TV show yesterday, DUP leader Arlene Foster called for a Brexit “third way”, insisting the choice is not between the current draft agreement and no deal.
As EU leaders endorsed the proposed legally-binding withdrawal agreement in Brussels, Mrs Foster made clear there were no circumstances under which her party would vote for it when it comes before the House of Commons. “I believe we should use the time now to look for a third way, a different way, a better way,” she said.
She added: “We shouldn’t just accept an outcome for the sake of it — we should try to get a deal that is good for everybody.
“We’re not advocating a no deal, we’re advocating a better deal. We want to see the Irish backstop gone. There is no need for the Irish backstop, so let’s get rid of it.”
Asked if she would support the Prime Minister if a parliamentary defeat triggered a confidence vote in the Government, Mrs Foster added: “We will have to see what happens at that time.
“I think this last couple of weeks should tell all of us that you shouldn’t jump ahead of ourselves. What we should do is wait to see what develops in that respect.”
Pressed on whether a defeat of the EU deal in Parliament would spell the end of Mrs May’s tenure as Prime Minister, Mrs Foster said: “That’s not a matter for me, that’s a matter for her own party.”
On Friday the Chancellor said the Government is considering providing extra border backstop assurances to the DUP. Philip Hammond said ministers have a number of choices through the parliamentary process, which include extending the Brexit implementation period ahead of the permanent relationship.
That could avoid having to use a backstop in which the UK would continue to follow EU regulations relating to trade across the Irish border — a solution which is adamantly opposed by the DUP.