Prime Minister must ensure we move together in a united front, whatever the outcome of agreement

THE stakes have never been higher and the Prime Minister is on a journey with an uncertain outcome.

If the Withdrawal Agreement passes through the House of Commons there is no legal certainty that Northern Ireland will remain an equal constituent part of the United Kingdom, as the UK will not be able to unilaterally withdraw from the backstop and the future status of Northern Ireland will be dependent on the UK and EU agreeing a trade deal.

This contradicts the assertion of the Prime Minister that the integrity of the Union must be upheld in the outworkings of the negotiations and this is the political flaw in the agreement.

The understandable concern of the business community about economic life post-Brexit is a serious concern for us all.

The potential exists for Northern Ireland to be subject to decisions taken in Brussels with no representation.

The decision to leave the EU was a ‘People’s Vote’ and I respect the democratic decision of the UK electorate. Given that the verdict was delivered by referendum, it seems entirely reasonable that the full legal advice of the Attorney General, Sir Geoffrey Cox, should be published.

Transparency should be uppermost in delivering the outcomes of referen- dums and, though Mrs May could be forgiven for feeling frustrated by the political impasse in Northern Ireland, her long-held conviction on maintaining the integrity of the Union appears to be fluid, to say the least.

No one wants a hard border — not the British or Irish government, the EU, or any of the local political parties.

Whatever the outcome, Mrs May should declare that the UK will move forward together in a united front and, in negotiation with the EU, will agree a trade deal with due haste.

RICHARD MOLYNEAUX Crawfordsburn, Co Down