The European Tribune is a forum for thoughtful dialogue of European and international issues. You are invited to post comments and your own articles.
Please REGISTER to post.
DUP finds itself caught between the devil and the Irish sea | The Guardian | The Democratic Unionist party (DUP) is facing two options, one bad, the other worse. The trick will be deciding which is which. It can reject the Brexit deal that British and EU negotiators are discussing in Brussels, on the assumption it proposes a border down the Irish Sea. Rejection would rupture its relations with Boris Johnson and could sink the deal in the Commons, shunt the UK towards no deal, wreck Northern Ireland's economy and add support for a united Ireland. Or Arlene Foster and her 10 Westminster MPs could endorse the deal and smooth its passage through parliament, then face howls of betrayal from rival unionists who will try to engrave Brexit on the DUP's tombstone. Foster kept the party's options open in a holding statement last Friday, which reiterated opposition to a backstop or any measure that would "trap" Northern Ireland in the EU. It also urged a "balanced and sensible" deal in Northern Ireland's "long-term" economic and constitutional interests - ambiguous language that left wiggle room. "We will judge any outcome reached by the prime minister against the criteria above," it concluded. Less ambiguous language came on Saturday from the party's Nigel Dodds, who told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "No, it cannot work, because Northern Ireland has to remain fully part of the UK customs union."
The Democratic Unionist party (DUP) is facing two options, one bad, the other worse. The trick will be deciding which is which. It can reject the Brexit deal that British and EU negotiators are discussing in Brussels, on the assumption it proposes a border down the Irish Sea.
Rejection would rupture its relations with Boris Johnson and could sink the deal in the Commons, shunt the UK towards no deal, wreck Northern Ireland's economy and add support for a united Ireland.
Or Arlene Foster and her 10 Westminster MPs could endorse the deal and smooth its passage through parliament, then face howls of betrayal from rival unionists who will try to engrave Brexit on the DUP's tombstone.
Foster kept the party's options open in a holding statement last Friday, which reiterated opposition to a backstop or any measure that would "trap" Northern Ireland in the EU. It also urged a "balanced and sensible" deal in Northern Ireland's "long-term" economic and constitutional interests - ambiguous language that left wiggle room. "We will judge any outcome reached by the prime minister against the criteria above," it concluded.
Less ambiguous language came on Saturday from the party's Nigel Dodds, who told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "No, it cannot work, because Northern Ireland has to remain fully part of the UK customs union."
by Oui - Dec 4 41 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 8 2 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 1 4 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 27 69 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 23 37 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 20 68 comments
by Oui - Nov 21 2 comments
by Oui - Nov 15 9 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 82 comments
by Oui - Dec 441 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 14 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 2769 comments
by gmoke - Nov 26
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 2337 comments
by Oui - Nov 212 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 2068 comments
by Oui - Nov 159 comments
by ATinNM - Nov 135 comments
by Oui - Nov 134 comments
by Oui - Nov 124 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 10115 comments
by Oui - Nov 87 comments
by IdiotSavant - Nov 818 comments
by gmoke - Nov 8
by Oui - Nov 428 comments
by Oui - Oct 2916 comments