Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Border Arrangements Debate
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Lord Mackinlay of Richborough
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Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Border Arrangements
Lord Mackinlay of Richborough Excerpts(6 years, 9 months ago)
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Mr Lidington
The Government’s policy is as I have set out. We are now, at the very start of the negotiating process, bringing forward ideas about how we would wish to give practical application to the commitments that we have entered into and developing them internally among the Government. The Prime Minister will say more about that on Friday.
Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con)
The differences in tax, economic strategy and, indeed, currency have proven to be no hindrance to the free and open land border. I recommend to my right hon. Friend that we give an absolute declaration that the UK will not, under any circumstances, implement a new Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland border. If the EU requires a new hard border, that is a matter for it and the Republic to decide and implement. We—unilaterally, if necessary—will honour the Belfast agreement and, indeed, strengthen the Union of the UK.