Western Mail

A solution to the Irish border problem

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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

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