Open letter to Northern Ireland leaves DUP politicians furious

AN OPEN letter written by the Northern Ireland Secretary on the benefits of Theresa May’s withdrawal deal has infuriated the DUP.

Karen Bradley said in a letter to the people of Northern Ireland the deal will “protect all the things we value” and help build a “brighter future”.

The DUP is strongly opposed to the Prime Minister’s deal amid concerns the customs backstop will see Northern Ireland more closely aligned with the EU than with Great Britain.

In her letter, Mrs Bradley insisted of the backstop: “It is not a threat to the integrity of the Union, or a threat to the rights people enjoy today”.

She said: “The deal protects all the things we value. For all the people in Northern Ireland, this means continuing the progress over the past two decades under the Belfast Agreement, supporting our business community to thrive, ensuring a good deal for our agricultural and fishing industries and providing a safe, secure and prosperous society for future generations.”

Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, said: “This letter fails to deal with the fatal flaws in the Withdrawal Agreement. Indeed, it doesn’t even address the flaws raised by the Attorney General.

“Rather than writing letters or sending a roadshow to Northern Ireland for 90 minutes, I would prefer the PM would go to Brussels and stand up to the EU and seek fundamental changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.

“Unionists in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK are united against this dangerous deal.”

Earlier David Lidington, the Prime Minister’s de facto deputy, prompted a backlash after travelling to Belfast. Nigel Dodds, the DUP deputy leader, said that Mr Lidington was attempting to “tell us what we should do rather than listening”.

Mr Dodds said: “I would prefer the Government would listen to MPS on all sides and acknowledge the backstop is dangerous for Northern Ireland and the entire United Kingdom.”

Mr Lidington claimed the DUP had assured him their confidence and supply agreement keeping the Government afloat remained in place.

“As with any minority government, there are going to be squalls and difficulties in a Parliament where the Government does not have an automatic majority in either house, but that is not something new,” he added.

“You just have to work through, look for compromises, have discussions, I am very confident we will continue.”