NI customs union is last puzzle for talks

Theresa May will meet EU Commission President Jean-claude Juncker today with the Irish border the only remaining area of significant disagreement that could hold up progress towards trade talks being approved later this month.

The talks in Brussels come as the Irish government signalled that it was willing to allow trade talks provided that the UK agree to continued membership of the customs union for Northern Ireland. However, that proposals has been rejected by the government’s DUP allies because it would lead to new barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

“What we are looking for though is the parameters within which we can be more confident that a solution can be found within phase two - and that is not an unreasonable ask,” Irish deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair warned that the EU cannot allow the free flow of goods across the Irish border if Britain is outside the customs union.

The former prime minister also said it would make a “nonsense” of the argument Brexit would take back control of the UK’S borders if the free movement of people between Northern Ireland and the Republic continued.