Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SAMMY SAYS LARNE TO BE BORDER POST
DUP man challenges Boris on checks
SAMMY Wilson told the Commons yesterday that Port of Larne has been told to get ready become a “border control post”.
The move came against a backdrop of denials from the Prime Minister there will be no “customs infrastructure” in Northern Ireland – a claim which he repeated yesterday.
At Westminster, the East Antrim politician challenged Boris Johnson on the issue.
The DUP veteran told MPS: “The Prime Minister has stated that when we leave the EU at the end of this year, Northern Ireland will still remain a full part of the United Kingdom.
“Yet I have in my hand a letter received by management of the Port of Larne only this week stating they have to prepare to become a border control post and 14 acres has been looked at for car parking or for lorry parking and for construction.
“Can the Prime Minister explain how Northern Ireland can remain a full part of the United Kingdom if people coming from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland have to pass through a border control post and would he advise the management to tear this letter up as well?” Mr Johnson insisted there will be no new checks in Larne as Northern Ireland is part of the UK customs territory and will be joining it “in our new independent trade policy and doing free trade deals around the world”.
Meanwhile, MPS are urging ministers to be more transparent about decisions being made at the UK-EU Joint Committee overseeing implementation of the Brexit treaty.
MPS accused No10 of not being upfront about what amendments it was accepting during the regular meet-ups, warning “significant improvements” were required over accountability. A report yesterday found that on May 15, the European Commission published a proposal to amend the Withdrawal Agreement to address a number of “errors and omissions”.
The changes included “certain adjustments to the number and scope of EU laws on goods that will continue to be applicable in Northern Ireland beyond the end of the transition period”.