Trouble at the border

IT was supposed to be the meeting where a deal would finally be struck between Britain and the eU over the thorny question of the internal Irish border.

All weekend, the spin from Brussels was that an agreement was imminent – and the Government had done nothing to correct this impression.

But then, in a tense press conference, Theresa May announced that talks had broken down. There were still outstanding issues to be resolved and, although negotiations will resume later this week, there was a general air of disarray.

Clearly, Mrs May’s refusal to accept the eU’s terms was prompted by her DUP partners and leaving this carefully choreographed meeting empty handed is hardly ideal.

But wasn’t she right not to be railroaded into signing a deal that she – and the people of Northern Ireland – would later regret?

A soft Irish border can and should be achieved after Brexit by a combination of smart technology and recognition of a common set of trading standards by both sides.

What no-one needs is an almighty muddle, where part of the United Kingdom remains in the eU while the rest leaves. This is not just about pleasing the DUP. It’s about honouring the referendum result – in full.