Lord Empey: The DUP agreed to the Irish Sea border which is now being finalised

Whilst the UK government and the EU may be pleased to have reached an agreement on the implementation of a border in the Irish Sea, the fact that businesses have been left in a state of uncertainty up until the last minute is a disgrace.
By Reg Empey
Published 8th Dec 2020, 19:34 BST
Updated 8th Dec 2020, 19:57 BST
Arlene Foster and the then newly elected DUP MPs in June 2017. Last year the party backed Borish Johnson's regulatory border plan in the Irish Sea on October 2 2019. Lord Empey asks: "Can she now explain why the DUP didn`t block this proposal in October 2019 when they held the balance of power in the House of Commons?" Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press EyeArlene Foster and the then newly elected DUP MPs in June 2017. Last year the party backed Borish Johnson's regulatory border plan in the Irish Sea on October 2 2019. Lord Empey asks: "Can she now explain why the DUP didn`t block this proposal in October 2019 when they held the balance of power in the House of Commons?" Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Arlene Foster and the then newly elected DUP MPs in June 2017. Last year the party backed Borish Johnson's regulatory border plan in the Irish Sea on October 2 2019. Lord Empey asks: "Can she now explain why the DUP didn`t block this proposal in October 2019 when they held the balance of power in the House of Commons?" Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

It is worth remembering how we got into this mess.

Agreement being reached is confirmation that there will be a regulatory border in the Irish Sea. This proposal from Boris Johnson last year was endorsed by Arlene Foster and her DUP colleagues on October 2 2019.

Can she now explain why the DUP didn`t block this proposal in October 2019 when they held the balance of power in the House of Commons?

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Furthermore, in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday October 2 2018 Arlene Foster said:

“There cannot be a border down the Irish Sea, a differential between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK - The red line is blood red — All along we have said: ‘No new regulatory alignment.”

Arlene Foster also told ITV on 9 October 2018:

“We’ve always said there’s only one red line in these matters and that’s when we’re treated differently from the rest of the UK in terms of customs in terms of regulatory alignment and that’s not only to protect the constitutional integrity of the UK but also the economy of NI.”

Can she now explain why she agreed to a regulatory border when she had pledged never to do so?

Lord Empey, Ulster Unionist peer, Westminster

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Related topics:DUPIrish SeaArlene FosterITVNorthern IrelandBoris JohnsonHouse of CommonsBBC