Britain to demand no barriers at Irish border

NO check points or CCTV cameras should be put on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit, Britain will demand today.

Ministers will say their top priority is keeping the frontier free of border posts as they make clear there will be ‘no return to the hard borders of the past’.

In a paper today, the Government will say that Brussels could agree to there being no checks on goods crossing the border.

Under one proposal, small businesses that make up 80 per cent of cross-border trade would be exempted from customs rules.

Larger businesses would be trusted to declare what goods they are carrying between the two countries, with spot checks taking place away from the border.

The second option would see the Government work with Brussels on a special customs agreement that would eliminate checks on goods moving between any EU country and the UK.

The Government paper will dismiss any suggestion a customs border could be shifted to the Irish Sea with checks and tariffs only at entry and exit points between the island and Great Britain.

Creating such a barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is ‘not constitutionally or economically viable’, it will state.

It will also make clear that the UK plans to protect the Common Travel Area – the open borders agreement predating our EU membership – that allows British and Irish citizens to move freely around the two countries. A Government source said: ‘Both sides needs to show flexibility and imagination when it comes to the border issue in Northern Ireland and that is exactly what our latest position paper will do.

‘As [the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator] Michel Barnier himself has said, the solution cannot be based on a precedent so we’re looking forward to seeing the EU’s position paper on Ireland.

‘But it’s right that as we shape the unprecedented model, we have some very clear principles.

‘Top of our list is to agree upfront no physical border infrastructure – that would mean a return to the border posts of the past and is completely unacceptable.

‘Our paper sets out some creative options on customs … Protecting trade is vital for the UK and Ireland … so we’re prioritising finding a solution that protects businesses’ ability to access these important markets.’

The Irish government last night welcomed the UK’s position paper. A spokesman said: ‘Protecting the peace process is crucial and it must not become a bargaining chip in the negotiations.’

He added that the publication of the position paper was ‘timely and helpful’ as it offers more clarity.