The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
May’s deputy offers trade commitment to unionists
BREXIT: Pledge offered to Scots who fear EU vote could lead to UK break-up
Theresa May’s deputy has offered an olive branch to Scottish unionists who fear her Brexit will carve up the UK.
In a concession that could aggravate Brexiteers, David Lidington promised Britain would stay aligned to European rules followed in Northern Ireland to protect the peace agreement, if a new trade deal is not agreed by the end of the transition period.
Mr Lidington said that pledge is designed to reassure people that the UK Government’s “commitment to the Union is very, very deeply felt”.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Parliament will reject Theresa May’s deal next week after pro-remain parties agreed last night to form a united front against the agreement. All of Holyrood’s parties bar the Scottish Conservatives said they would support a single motion opposing the EU-UK withdrawal agreement and political declaration.
In an evidence session to MSPS yesterday, Mrs May’s de facto understudy tried to appease unionists worried about a border in the Irish Sea created by Northern Ireland staying within the EU’S regulatory regime.
Known as the Irish backstop, it keeps the province tied to European single market and customs rules, to ensure there is no hard border on the island after Brexit that could threaten stability.
It only takes effect in the absence of an EU-UK trade deal at the end of the transition period in 2020, before which all of Britain is effectively still in the single market and customs union.
“The (remaining EU countries) have every incentive to stop the backstop being used,” Mr Lidington said.
“But if it were ever used we are looking at how to give effect to this, but what we would seeking to do to provide reassurance to unionists in Scotland – and Northern Ireland and Wales for that matter – is to say, ‘OK, while that (the backstop) is in, Great Britain will not diverge from the regime in Northern Ireland’.”
The vote in Edinburgh next week would reflect the will of the Scottish Parliament, but is not binding on the UK Government. However, ignoring the decision would fuel claims that the Conservative government is sidelining Scottish interests in Brexit.
The SNP, Scottish Labour, Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats released a rare joint statement yesterday promising a single motion from the parties, “which will reject a no-deal scenario, recommend rejection of the prime minister’s negotiated agreement and point the way towards the alternatives that exist”.
Mrs May is trying to convince MPS and voters to support her withdrawal agreement and political declaration on future trade relations, which she secured with the EU last week.
MPS will vote on whether to back her deal on December 11.