SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said that the British Government’s position papers on future relationships with the European Union are deficient and do not meet the needs of people in the North.
Speaking ahead of a further day of negotiations on Northern Ireland, the Foyle MLA said:
“The British Government’s proposals on future relationships between these islands after Brexit are grossly deficient.
“The unanswered tension between creating a ‘seamless’ border in Ireland while refusing to station customs checks at air and sea ports in Britain cannot continue. It ignores all political, trade and economic realities.
“There is nothing in any proposals we’ve seen so far which points to a solution which insulates our political and economic interests from the profoundly destabilising effect of a hard Brexit.
“Continued membership of the customs union and the Single Market is the only sensible position which respects the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland and seeks to mitigate against the economic winter that a hard Brexit will bring.
“The continued absence of the voice of a local Executive is a dereliction of duty during one of the most profound constitutional earthquakes in living memory.
“The challenge to reshape Brexit is immense but it’s one that we must all rise to, and quickly,” added the SDLP leader.
