The prime minister will not try to negotiate for a lesser border in the Irish Sea border if unionists do not even make demands about it

As we gradually approach the deadline for the implementation of the Irish Sea Protocol, there is a growing sense of anxiety amongst both grassroots unionists and the local business community.
By Kirk McDowell
Published 10th Jul 2020, 18:49 BST
Updated 10th Jul 2020, 19:03 BST
The UK has applied to the EU to put internal UK checks at ports such as Larne, aboveThe UK has applied to the EU to put internal UK checks at ports such as Larne, above
The UK has applied to the EU to put internal UK checks at ports such as Larne, above

These concerns are compounded by the silence, and seeming inactivity, most unionist politicians seem to be showing in response to this blatant violation of the principle of consent and dilution of British sovereignty in the Province.

Last year there seemed to be a consensus amongst political unionism that any form of custom or regulatory border in the Irish Sea would be economically disastrous and completely unacceptable constitutionally.

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Recent comments from senior unionists regarding economic opportunities and the potential for NI to have the ‘best of both worlds’, have only served to sow confusion, and send out a message of defeatism to unionism’s political opponents.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

To clarify matters every unionist MLA should take the time to answer the following questions either on their social media profiles or by making written submissions to this newspaper:

1. Do you believe the proposed Irish Sea customs border is a violation of the principle of consent as established in both the Belfast and St Andrews agreements?

2. Do you believe the proposed Irish Sea customs border presents a long term threat to the Union?

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3. Do you believe losing free and unfettered economic access to Britain has the potential to be ruinous for many local businesses?

4. Do you trust the prime minster to represent the best interests of unionism in his negotiations with the EU? If so, what is the basis for this trust, given his previous broken promises to unionism on these matters?

5. Are you prepared to refuse to work the structures of the Good Friday Agreement, if an Irish Sea border is imposed on NI without consent, and in conjunction with unionist MLAs from other parties offer your resignation from the assembly?

6. If not, what is your strategy for opposing this border?

Unionists MLAs ignore answering these questions now at their potential electoral peril later.

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There is still time for unionism to influence the outcome of the government’s negotiations with the EU. But put simply, why would the prime minster even try to negotiate a better deal for unionism, if its elected representatives are not even prepared to demand it for themselves?

Kirk McDowell, Belfast BT5

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Related topics:Irish SeaProvinceBelfastMLAsSt Andrews