DUP puts Theresa May on notice to alter Brexit course or risk collapse
0 Prime Minister Theresa May’s ‘inner Cabinet’ has been briefed on plans for a no-deal Brexit ahead of a summit with EU leaders next week Prime Minister Theresa May has been put on notice by her allies in the Democratic Unionist Party to change course on Brexit or risk the collapse of her government.
DUP leader Arlene Foster warned ministers they “could not in good conscience” proceed with plans believed to have been agreed between European Union and UK negotiators to beef up regulators checks between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
It came as Mrs May’s “inner Cabinet” was briefed last night on plans for a no-deal Brexit ahead of a crucial EU summit next week. Mrs May discussed hopes of an imminent Brexit breakthrough, with UK and EU negotiators believed to be close to agreeing to the text for a withdrawal treaty. But a spokesman for the European Commission in Brussels dampened speculation, saying “we’re not there yet”.
The deal believed to be on the table involves keeping the wholeukinan“arrangement” that effectively preserves the existing EU customs union, ensuring that goods continue to move freely over the Irish land border regardless of the future trade relationship between London and Brussels. Brussels has rejected any time limit to this “backstop” to maintain the status quo at the border, prompting anger from Brexiteers who believe the plan would keep the UK in limbo under EU trading rules.
In addition, Northern Ireland would remain under large parts of single market regulations, requiring enhanced checks on products arriving from Britain, particularly agricultural goods.
In a statement last night, Ms Foster effectively ruled out the plan, describing it as “not the best of both worlds”, but the “worst of one world”.
Blasting the proposed deal, she said: “Trade from Great Britain into Northern Ireland would be in danger of restriction. Indeed, Northern Ireland’s access to any new UK trade deals would also be regulated by Brussels.”
She added: “The Prime Minister is a Unionist. Many of her Cabinet colleagues have assured me of their Unionism. Therefore, they could not in good conscience recommend a deal which places a trade barrier on UK businesses.”
A senior DUP MP said a Commons vote on Wednesday night that saw the party abstain on a piece of legislation for the first time since signing a pact to keep the Conservatives in power was a “warning” to the government.
Sammy Wilson said: “It was a way of reminding the government that while our vote wasn’t important last night, it wouldbeimportantsometime in the future and we would have no hesitation withholding it if we thought that was a necessary sanction to impose.
“It was a warning, ‘Don’t take us for granted.”
A meeting between the UK government and devolved administrations was meanwhile witness to “heated exchanges” over Brexit and migration policy.
SNP constitutional relations secretary Michael Russell said he underlined the need to stay in the EU single market to preserve Scotland’s £104 billion services industry.