David Campbell: Unionists need to be on their guard

The leaking out of Dublin of text which would have placed Northern Ireland outside of the framework by which the rest of the United Kingdom will operate post-Brexit would have represented a major rupture in the Union.

It may well be that the DUP should ask for more than a pause to allow matters to be further considered.

Rather a formal break in negotiations with the EU might be needed to force a fundamental re-think in London, Dublin, and Brussels.

The current negotiating stance of the EU has one primary objective – to punish the United Kingdom’s electorate for voting to leave the EU and to ensure that a post-Brexit UK is disadvantaged rather than empowered.

The recent disingenuous activity from the Irish government points to them wanting to use Brexit to reignite Irish nationalism.

They are playing a very dangerous game and all unionists need to be on their guard.

If this were not the case why then does the EU, and the Irish government want to fix the UK to positions vis-à-vis the Irish border and movement on the island of Ireland when negotiations to determine trade relationships, and movements, have not even started?

The negotiations should be the other way round. A successful trade deal will lead to a successful outcome on the question of what type of border we have.

Common sense dictates a soft border but common sense is not to be found in the EU vocabulary. We should all remember that a hard border was not in place because of trade movements, it was in place because of terrorist movements.

The EU and the Irish government claim they are trying to protect the Belfast Agreement and the peace process. This is hypocritical cant.

They are using these claims to undermine the United Kingdom, and they are the very ones who are now jeopardising that peace.

David Campbell, Carrickfergus