DUP accuses Taoiseach and EU of trying to bully UK over Border

The DUP's deputy leader, Nigel Dodds, has accused the Taoiseach and the European Union of attempting to bully the British government over the Border in an attempt to influence the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

"Leo Varadkar and the EU governments are trying to bully and intimidate the UK government over the Northern Ireland Border… to try to create an outcome to their liking, and they won't succeed in that," said the Belfast North MP.

Mr Dodds was speaking outside 10 Downing Street after he and DUP leader Arlene Foster held a 90-minute meeting with Theresa May. He said they discussed a new British government proposal for a customs arrangement to address the Border issue, but added that the prime minister did not go into details.

Mr Dodds said the DUP, which supports the Conservative government in a confidence and supply arrangement at Westminster, does not “give blank cheques to anyone”, including where the Brexit negotiations are concerned.

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“We want to see a proper Brexit which fulfils the referendum result. We have been very clear that has to be on the basis that the whole of the UK leaving the EU as one. I’m confident the PM will deliver on that.”

Further proposals

Later on Monday, Ms May told MPs that “some real differences” remained between Britain and the European Commission over the issue of the Border. She restated her commitment to avoid a hard border either on the island of Ireland or between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

“We have put forward proposals and will produce further proposals, so that if a temporary backstop is needed there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

“We are absolutely committed to the avoidance of such a border, and we are equally committed to the avoidance of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland is an integral part of our country, and we will never accept the imposition of a border within our United Kingdom.”