May makes Northern Ireland pledge

Theresa May will pledge that her Brexit deal will honour the Good Friday Agreement and protect the integrity of the UK in a speech in Northern Ireland today.

The Prime Minister will repeat her rejection of the EU’S backstop proposal which would mean the creation of a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in her speech at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

Putting the government on a collision course with Brussels, Mrs May will say a customs border within the UK “is something I will never accept and I believe no British Prime Minister could ever accept.”

Promising a “brighter future” for Northern Ireland after Brexit, the Prime Minister will also rule out a hard border with the Republic.

Mrs May met business representatives on the Northern Ireland side of the border on Thursday afternoon, in her first visit to the frontier since the EU referendum.

Sinn Fein said the visit was “too little, too late”, with party vice-president Michelle O’neill warning the Prime Minister would hear about the “catastrophic implications” of Brexit and the “fear and trepidation” of locals.

“She is coming two years after the referendum, she is coming two years after negotiating with her own party,” Ms O’neill said.

Mrs May visited the border county of Fermanagh following an invite from Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster.

Ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival, Mrs Foster whose ten MPS prop up the minority government - said Mrs May would hear of the challenges and opportunities presented by Brexit.

“This visit will enable Mrs May to speak with people who live, work and travel across the much talked about Irish border on a daily basis,” said Mrs Foster.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier previously made separate visits to the border.