The voters got it right. But we joined as one – so we must leave as one

The DUP believes the referendum result must be implemented. To do otherwise would undermine democracy in this country with calamitous consequences.

We believe that just as we joined the Common Market as one country so we must leave the EU as one country. We also believe the decision to leave the EU was the right one.

It is not Brexit per se that is the cause of the difficulties. Where the country finds itself is due entirely to the failure of this government to implement the Brexit referendum result in a proper and sensible way.

The Prime Minister’s withdrawal deal and the awful choices before us were not inevitable. But terrible decisions resulted in a deal which is the worst of all worlds, alienating both leave and remain voters. It has been rejected three times. And it hasn’t changed since November. It remains fundamentally undermined by the backstop provisions that come into force automatically after the transition period. We would be stuck there unless and until the EU decides something else it prefers replaces it. It divides our country and holds us hostage in the second round of talks and gives enormous advantage and leverage to the EU in the negotiations on the final trade relationship. As a binding international treaty, not even a new prime minister could set it aside. We

should not accept such a terrible outcome. It is still possible for the UK to leave together while taking back control of our laws, borders and money.

Look at what has been said by the EU itself about what would happen in a no-deal scenario. Officials confirmed that controls on the island of Ireland do not mean visible infrastructure. Michel Barnier says in the case of no deal there will be no hard border. Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, is confident a special arrangement can be found to keep the border invisible. All this was once dismissed as magical thinking. This shows the extent of bad faith by those who insist a backstop is necessary. No one can seriously acquiesce in its necessity yet it is this one thing that makes the deal in its current state so unpalatable.

Meanwhile the EU keeps no deal on the table and ramps up its preparations to maximise pressure on the UK.

At the same time we know there are divisions in the EU27. These were on display at the last EU Council meeting. In this light and given the concerns it will have about no deal or a lengthy extension of UK membership the Government should be working to secure the changes the Commons has already shown it will support.

The Government should go to the EU and fight for the measures that would unite its MPS and us. The DUP has been clear throughout that we want a deal that works for all parts of the UK and for the EU. But it must be a deal that protects the Union. We will not accept any deal which poses a long term risk to the integrity of the UK.