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It a misrepresentation of what is referred to the "backstop" aspect of the Withdrawal Agreement (incorrectly called the "Brexit Deal" in the header above). The
by derriz 8y ago
It a misrepresentation of what is referred to the "backstop" aspect of the Withdrawal Agreement (incorrectly called the "Brexit Deal" in the header above).
The "backstop" stipulates that any future trading relationship does not violate terms of the Irish peace agreement known as the Good Friday Agreement - specifically that there would be no physical checks at the border in Ireland.
Currently the border is virtually invisible because the UK and Ireland are EU members and in the same customs zone.
If, in the future, the UK decides it would prefer to leave the Customs Union (you can be in the customs union but not in the EU), then this would require a special arrangement for Ireland - probably requiring customs checking to be done between Northern Ireland and Britain instead of between north and south in Ireland.
For some people (and I don't know why - see my comment above), this is absolutely objectionable even though this arrangement would enjoy popular support in both parts of Ireland. If you're not prepared to accept this arrangement, then the UK would be stuck in the EU's customs union.
Of course if you want to leave the customs union (otherwise what's the point of brexit), then you have to accept the special arrangement for Northern Ireland or basically renege on the terms of Irish peace agreement.
- falsedan 8y agoUnionist hate it because it would set a precedent for one part of the UK to be treated differently to the other countries. If a hard border in the Irish Sea is ok for Northern Ireland, why not a border at Carlyle? Unionists stamp their feet and tout in indivisibleness of the UK, SNP/Plaid Cymru use the special treatment of NI to demonstrate how Westminster isn’t providing the best government for their countries.
- notahacker 8y agoThe Unionists most relevant here are the Northern Irish ones, not the Scots or English. For most Brits, the idea of Northern Ireland having a special status is essentially baked into the idea of the integrity of UK anyway, and the government would have probably seen some quirky customs exceptions over there in a transition deal as an acceptable price to pay for having a Brexit agreement if they didn't depend on DUP votes to stay in power. But Irish unionists passionately hate the idea of an Irish Sea customs border for the same basic reason Irish republicans hate the idea of a customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: it's a symbolic split from a nation they consider themselves to be part of and whose identity a lot of blood has been shed over in living memory. Sure, customs checks at ferry and airports to the UK mainland would entail considerably fewer practical delays, smuggling opportunities and security issues than customs checks between a village and its nearest supermarket on the Irish border, but unionists can legitimately argue an Irish Sea border violates their understanding of the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. Though it'd also be perfectly fair to ask their politicians who all backed Brexit what did you expect to happen?