ARLENE IS SEEING RED ON BREXIT

DUP tells Barnier no barriers to UK trade

DUP leader Arlene Foster has insisted any Brexit deal must meet her party’s red line.

She said the Democratic Unionists need to see the legal text of any agreement to check it rules out any extra barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The UK Government has promised to set out further proposals on the backstop arrangement aimed at avoiding a hard border, with speculation it could involve regulatory checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Speaking after her meeting with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels, Mrs Foster said: “It is vital the European Union understands the sensitivities surrounding Northern Ireland and the fact we are going to be the only integral part of the United Kingdom with a land border with the European Union after we leave next year.

“There cannot be barriers to trade in the UK internal market which would damage the economic wellbeing of Northern Ireland and therefore we could not support any arrangements which would give rise to either customs or regulatory barriers within the UK internal market.

“It’s been a useful meeting today, we look forward to continued engagement over the next couple of days.”

Mrs Foster was accompanied to the meeting by Democratic Unionist MEP Diane Dodds. She said any type of trade barrier between Northern Ireland and the UK would be “disastrous”.

Mrs Dodds added: “We do want a sensible Brexit, a Brexit that is good for the Union and good for all of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom as well as our neighbours in the Irish Republic.”

Following the meeting with the DUP delegation, Mr Barnier tweeted his team are “working hard to explain and de-dramatise the backstop”.

Mr Barnier also met with Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann.

Mr Swann tweeted his party delegation told Mr Barnier unionists in Northern Ireland do not support the proposed backstop.

MEETING Arlene Foster