DUP must see merit of May’s deal say business groups

Twenty representatives held meetings in Westminster to stress the need for MPs to “unite and protect” Northern Ireland’s jobs, consumers and economy - and they say the need for a Brexit deal is critical to avoid the UK crashing out of the EU in 60 days.

Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, spent an hour talking to the group, which is also planning to meet Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.

They have also invited Northern Ireland’s 18 MPs to meet them.

Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, who helped organise the event, said the group wanted to “impress” on the opposition parties the need to protect Northern Ireland.

He told the Press Association that the group supported Theresa May’s Brexit deal, and said: “Business in Northern Ireland and farming directly engaged with the negotiators to ensure that whatever came out of the Withdrawal Agreement was workable, and it is.

“So because we have been engaged and employed in the middle of that negotiation what we need is in that agreement, is in that backstop.

“If Parliament can’t agree that, then whatever it agrees next needs to deliver exactly the same solutions, exactly the same outcomes as what’s already been negotiated and agreed.”

Asked what he would say to the DUP, who prop up Mrs May’s Government, he said: “The DUP only partly represent what’s going on in Northern Ireland.

“Business, farming and jobs all depend on a good agreement and we’ve been clear to the DUP and to others that we support this Withdrawal Agreement and we would encourage them to see the benefits of it for our community and our economy.”

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said: “It is not acceptable for Parliament to continue to create uncertainty.

“This is having consequences, as is apparent in our businesses and in our high streets.

“The actions of parliamentarians from across the House (of Commons) is not acceptable and I will be pleading with the leadership of the opposition parties that they need to reach across the chamber and avoid a calamitous crashing out of the EU which will have a dire impact on consumers and jobs.”

Commenting after the meetings with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Nationalist Party, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Director, Aodhán Connolly said: “There was some robust engagement which was necessary to explain the real Brexit consequences for business and households in Northern Ireland.

“If there is a hard border with checks which brings inevitable delays, with customs and with tariffs, and with VAT, then we are talking about the systemic dismantling of the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland supply chain that has been built up over this past forty years.

“This will mean cost rises for shoppers across the island of Ireland and Great Britain. These cost rises will hit Northern Ireland worst and affect the most vulnerable consumers most.”