Britain agrees special Brexit arrangement for Northern Ireland – only for DUP to scupper historic deal

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was “surprised and disappointed” that an anticipated deal
on the border was not concluded. Picture by Laura Hutton/PA Wire

After a day of dramatic developments, Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said they would continue to talk with the aim of reaching agreement on the border issue by the end of the week.

However, the last-minute change of mind by the UK left Taoiseach Leo Varadkar “surprised and disappointed” and led to pessimism in some quarters.

The Fine Gael leader said a form of words had been agreed by all sides before Mrs May “asked for more time”.

Earlier, a leaked text of the proposed deal between the EU and UK suggested the British government had accepted that the north would maintain ‘regulatory alignment’ with the Republic, allowing the continuation of a soft border.

This produced a swift response from the DUP, with leader Arlene Foster insisting her party – which is propping up the Tory administration – would not allow a border at the Irish Sea.

“We will not accept any form of regulatory divergence which separates Northern Ireland economically or politically from the rest of the UK,” she said.

DUP leader Arlene Foster outlined her concerns to Prime Minister
Theresa May in Brussels by telephone. Picture by David Young/PA Wire

In echoes of the unionist response to the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, Mrs Foster said her party would not accept changes to the status of Northern Ireland “without our input or consent”.

It was unclear last night if the British government had sought approval from the DUP before reaching agreement with the EU, but it is understood that Mrs May took a break from her meeting with Mr Junker to speak by phone to Mrs Foster.

A planned press conference in Dublin by Taoiseach Leo Vardakar was then postponed and Mr Junker and Mrs May made brief statements saying they had achieved progress but further consultation was required.

Speaking later, Mr Varadkar insisted Brexit negotiations cannot move forward without firm guarantees on the border.

Asked about the DUP, he said while it was important to listen to the party they “don’t represent the majority of people in Northern Ireland” and the region had voted to remain in the EU.

The collapse of the deal sparked criticism of Mrs May from rival parties at Westminster, while leaders of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and London called for a similar deal to Northern Ireland.

Source:irishnews.com