SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA has said that proposals published by the British Government claiming to represent a compromise on the border are unacceptable politically and economically.
Mr Eastwood said that the imposition of a customs border breaches the British Government’s commitment to avoid a hard Border contained in the December 2017 joint report..
The proposals were announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Tory party conference in Manchester.
At the same time, his chief Brexit advisor was presenting a 40 page document to European Commission President Jean Claude Junker on the new proposals they hope break the impasse with the EU on the Irish backstop.
The document states that there would be customs checks on the island of Ireland but not at the border.
Said the Foyle MLA: “This is no compromise proposal.
“We started this discussion on the basis that we don’t want any borders on this island.
“The British Government’s counter offer is two borders by land and sea that are unacceptable to business, border communities and a majority of MLAs.
“The imposition of customs checks, with a need for physical infrastructure, will introduce heavy burdens on cross-border businesses and supply chains that will seriously threaten profitability in key sectors.
“We have already rejected it.
“The business community has already rejected it.
“This is a proposal from a government that doesn’t understand the complexities of this island, but more to the point they don’t care.
“The brass neck of the DUP should come as no surprise.
“Hailing the democratic accountability of this proposal, having supported the unlawful suspension of democratic scrutiny at Westminster, in the full knowledge that there is no Assembly to provide accountability is incredible.
“They honestly think people are idiots.
“But by their own test – that any solution must command the support of all communities, they must accept that this is dead on arrival.
“Earlier today I wrote to Jeremy Corbyn, Ian Blackford and Jo Swinson urging them to undertake an unprecedented course of action that would see Johnson removed from office and a temporary Prime Minister installed to extend the Brexit deadline and call an election.
“That remains the only path out of this mess. Waiting around is not an option – this is a moment for decisive action,” added the SDLP leader.
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