No 10 ‘locked into EU split deal avoiding hard border’
Passenger’s shock at mix-up
Geoffrey Cox BRITAIN is locked into an accord that ensures there will be no hard border even if it crashes out of the EU without a deal, it emerged yesterday.
The disclosure puts more pressure on Theresa May who is struggling to get her Withdrawal Agreement through Westminster next Tuesday.
The British Attorney General confirmed the UK would be “indefinitely committed” to EU customs rules if Brexit trade talks break down.
Geoffrey Cox described this as a “calculated risk”, adding: “I do not believe we will be trapped in it permanently.”
But No 10’s chief legal adviser faced criticism for his decision not to publish full Brexit legal advice.
He also admitted it was not a good deal for Britain.
Mr Cox said: “I would have preferred to have seen a unilateral right of termination in this backstop.
“I would have preferred to have seen a clause to exit if negotiations had irretrievably broken down.”
It was also reported Mrs May’s chief Brexit adviser Oliver Robbins secretly warned her the “backstop” agreed in her deal with Brussels was a “bad outcome” for Britain.
He added the measure would bring in regulatory checks between the North and the rest of the UK. A BUS driver on a new Go-ahead route had to ask passengers for directions after getting lost on his first day, it has emerged.
The company took over four services from Dublin Bus on Sunday.
And one commuter couldn’t believe it when the driver had to ask for help in finding his way.
Eric Gallagher told the Irish Mirror: “My bus the 17a serves three hospitals – Cappagh, Beaumont and Connolly.
“It also serves students going to DCU, running from Kilbarrack to Blanchardstown.
“When we got to Connolly Hospital, the driver took the wrong route on to a narrow road and we ended up in the car park.
“We had to circle around for a while and the driver asked passengers for help as he didn’t know the way.
“It was his first day to be fair but the company should have prepared him to take over the route smoothly. If I were taking over a public service, I’d provide the driver with a map, a Satnav or GPS. Maybe do test runs.”
The driver did eventually find his way back to the correct route.
Eric added: “Somebody helped him find the way out. Also, I heard the depot radio him to ask if he’d gone the wrong way after I’d tweeted and he confirmed with him he had but was back on track.”
A Go-ahead spokesman said: “On December 3, 2018, Go-ahead Ireland took over the operation of a further four bus routes.
“All our drivers undergo extensive driver and route learning training.
“Unfortunately, due to human error one of our drivers who had received full training took an incorrect turn causing a slight delay to the service.
“We apologise for any inconvenience to passengers and remain committed to providing customers with a good quality service.”