The silence from my former DUP colleagues over the new border in the Irish Sea is deafening

It is madness to put trade barriers between Northern Ireland and our biggest market (‘Irish Sea border a disaster and betrayal,’ May 21).
Exports of £10.6 billion from NI go to the rest of the UK, £4.2bn go to the Republic of Ireland. Putting trade barriers between ourselves and any export market is a bad idea, but choosing the larger market for barriers is madnessExports of £10.6 billion from NI go to the rest of the UK, £4.2bn go to the Republic of Ireland. Putting trade barriers between ourselves and any export market is a bad idea, but choosing the larger market for barriers is madness
Exports of £10.6 billion from NI go to the rest of the UK, £4.2bn go to the Republic of Ireland. Putting trade barriers between ourselves and any export market is a bad idea, but choosing the larger market for barriers is madness

(The editorial can be read by clicking here)

Exports to the value of £10.6 billion from NI go to the rest of the UK, £4.2 billion go to the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and £2.5 billion to the rest of the European Union.

Ireland and the EU combined are still £3.6 billion less than Great Britain (Nisra figures 2018/19).

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor
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Putting trade barriers between ourselves and any export market is a bad idea, but choosing between RoI and GB and picking the larger market for barriers is madness.

The proposed internal UK border between NI and GB must be opposed not just by unionists, but by anyone who cares about our future prosperity.

What it means in practice is less opportunity for us to grow our economy and stand on our own two feet; less opportunity for young people starting their careers and ultimately greater reliance on handouts from Westminster.

The silence from my former DUP colleagues on this issue is deafening.

David Cather, Businessman, former DUP member, BT6

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