Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Border Arrangements Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Border Arrangements

Deidre Brock Excerpts
Wednesday 28th February 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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My hon. Friend is spot on.

Deidre Brock Portrait Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)
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From the Foreign Secretary’s comments, it seems that the Government are happy to contemplate a hard border with Ireland, which would be a disaster for Northern Ireland. Is it not now clear that the Government have been negotiating in bad faith with Ireland and the other countries of the EU?

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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I have sometimes felt that the hon. Lady’s party would be happy with a hard border between Scotland and England. I do not want her or anyone in the House to be under any misapprehension about this: the Government are absolutely committed to what they agreed in the joint report. Ever since the referendum, we have made it clear that we are not going to support a hard border on the island of Ireland.