It can’t have been Parliament’s intention to allow Northern Ireland to form part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain for any purpose.
“And the backstop can only ever be temporary…under the legal arrangements of the European Union.”
We set five tests for it. Does this draft agreement pass them? And does it really take back control of our borders, laws and money?
“I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. I therefore have no alternative but to resign…”
“No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control… nor the ability to decide to exit”.
The UK should copy Canada only in regard to how it pursues a deal, and that means securing one that is bespoke to our economic needs and realities.
Ireland has in recent years moved from a restrictive semi-theocratic state to a more relaxed definition of Irishness. And then there is Brexit…
The Labour leader is ready to bargain his way to power by bidding for the support of the SNP in the event of a hung Parliament.
The Brexit negotiations ought to have highlighted to both sides how the Union is best served by a strong cross-water alliance.
Also: Pro-UK think-tanks torpedoes SNP’s economic case for independence; Plaid suffers ‘major rift’ as MP savages Wood; and more.
Crucially, opinion is not just divided between Leave and Remain, but between the Province and the mainland.
Also: Robinson calls for fixed-term border polls in Ulster; Wood sets departure date as leader of Plaid; and the architect of ‘The Vow’ comes out for Scottish independence.
The SNP leader wants instead to engage people in the ‘substantive arguments’ for breaking away from the UK.
Also: Davidson wisely opposed ‘The Vow’ in 2014; Jones proposes special conference to decide Welsh Labour leadership election rules; and more.
Rather than going over the heads of the Unionist parties, the Government needs to find a way to address their concerns.