The UK government and unionists are not challenging EU on its claims about the 1998 Belfast Agreement

Concerning the European Union statement on the legal proceedings against the UK internal market bill on Thursday that “Full and effective implementation of Withdrawal Agreement ... the only way to protect Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, guaranteeing peace and stability on island of Ireland”.
By Alex Kane
Published 3rd Oct 2020, 11:24 GMT
Updated 3rd Oct 2020, 11:27 GMT
Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Why are the UK government and unionist parties allowing this EU narrative to go unchallenged?

All unionist parties and every Northern Ireland First Minister since 1998 is opposed to the Withdrawal Agreement.

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What is needed here is a press conference with all the present unionist party leaders plus all living present and former DUP and UUP first ministers on one platform reading out a joint statement of opposition to the Withdrawal Agreement.

The recent deal in January 2020 to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly was welcomed by all parties in Northern Ireland and by the British, Irish and US governments.

It contains clauses such as: “The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the UK internal market, in line with the clear guarantee in the Protocol that Northern Ireland remains in the customs territory of the United Kingdom ... we will legislate to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the whole of the UK internal market”

Meanwhile much had been made of comments by Irish American politicians yet I believe the Americans can see they nuances.

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The US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney said: “I don’t think it necessarily follows that just because the UK introduced the Internal Markets Bill that automatically means The Good Friday Agreement is at risk.”

Alan Day, Coagh

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Related topics:Northern IrelandBelfastFirst MinisterGovernmentAmericansProtocolDUPUUP