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LONDON (BLOOMBERG) – How to avoid a bridging between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?
But as negotiations reach the endgame, it's becoming a high-stakes fight that could shape Britain's relationship with the European Union – and leave Britain shackled to the bloc's rules indefinitely. Pro- and anti-Brexit lawmakers are united in the opposition to such an outcome.
1. WHERE DO NEGOTIATIONS STAND?
The border problem arises in the first place because the UK wants to leave the EU and the Irish Republic to be all but invisible. Both sides commit to avoiding a hard border after Brexit, and there can be no divorce deal unless that's upheld.
So the UK and the EU agreed to include a guarantee clause – known as a backstop – in the divorce agreement. But the EU's proposal for a backstop would be between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain. That was unacceptable to the UK.
London then made its own proposal to keep the United Kingdom in a customs union as a temporary measure. The EU is willing to accept this – but the conditions threaten to become a deal breaker.
2. WHAT'S THE NEW ROW ABOUT?
The EU is demanding that it accept the UK's backstop, the UK will have to accept a bunch of EU regulation – not just on customs but also on things like state aid, competition and environmental standards. It's also not clear how the UK will be able to extricate itself from the backstop. The UK is demanding some kind of exit clause, but the EU has said it can not be unilateral.
First it was just the hardline Brexit-backers who objected. But now pro-EU politicians are also looking at the small print. Jo Johnson, a pro-conservative, resigned last week because he said the terms amounted to "vassalage".
3. WHAT'S THE FIGHT ABOUT THE LEGAL ADVICE?
Before she takes a decision at the negotiating table, Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox. The key question is whether the UK will get trapped in the backstop, tied to EU rules.
Labor lawmakers and hardline Brexiteers are trying to force May to publish the advice, in the hope it will confirm their suspicions and oblige her to change tack. There's a vote on it on Tuesday (Nov. 13) in Parliament, and The work is using an arcane device it's deployed successfully before the papers in the open. Legal advice is usually made public.
Meanwhile Brexiteers are trying to draw parallels with the Iraq War – former Minister Blair did not publish legal advice beforehand and it 's still 15 years later.
4. WHAT ARE MAY'S CHOICES?
May it be possible to stay in a customs union, which the UK could only leave by mutual agreement. This book is going to be published by Brexiteers in May's party. There are also pro-EU lawmakers who do not like the small print.
But to further complicate matters, the plan will also enrage the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party, which prop up May's government, because it would still involve additional checks on Britain and Northern Ireland.
If the UK refuses, then the alternative could be accepted to the EU's backstop, which has been rejected by the United Kingdom. That might deliver what Brexit purists want, but it would be a good idea to allow Northern Ireland to stay in Britain. Again, this would be enrage May's Northern Irish political backers – and she will have their votes approved in Parliament.
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