A solution to the Irish border problem

MANY voted “leave” in the belief that we’d take back control.

In Wales, we didn’t vote to hand Westminster powers on devolved matters including environment, transport and agriculture, which we derive from the EU and parliament.

While Carwyn Jones gave Welsh powers away, the Scottish government resisted; our peoples have never voted to let Westminster grab back powers.

In voting to control our borders, did they vote to introduce border controls within Ireland or at the border with Britain? They must now realise that neither alternative could be decided by the UK referendum, but is properly an issue for the Irish people – big hole in the “leave means leave” answer unless and until they decide on Irish re-unification.

There has been time to put the border choice to the Northern Irish people, but Theresa May’s dependence on the DUP has prevented this logical follow-up to the referendum vote. Devolution in Northern Ireland and bridge building with the Republic have indeed gone backwards.

The “back stop” was agreed by PM May to leave open the Irish decision and avoid introducing border controls in Ireland. Leavers have no way out, if “no deal” imposing a border within Ireland and the “backstop” are both unacceptable.

With the DUP-veto ended, it is now open to parliament to defer the Article 50 date and arrange a reunification vote in

N Ireland. Leavers would say – call a referendum of Northern Ireland people on the border issue and clear away this blockage to the PM’s deal. Max Wallis

Penarth