A new report proposes alternatives to the Irish backstop. But scepticism about magical solutions to the border problem is wise
s because of the Irish backstop. This part of the withdrawal agreement would keep the United Kingdom in a customs union with theuntil another option was found that could avert the need for a hard border with Ireland. The government has convened an advisory group to study such options. And this week a commission set up by Prosperitys, Greg Hands and Nicky Morgan, published a report on alternatives.
Scepticism about magical ways to avoid border controls is in order. Yet the report is based on work by experienced customs and border officials. It draws on international practice to advocate systems using trusted traders, authorised economic operators and exemptions for small businesses to minimise border friction. And although it stresses digital solutions, it does not rely on untested technology.
Such contradictions fuel two other ideas. The first, promoted in a new Policy Exchange pamphlet by Lord Bew of Queen’s University, Belfast, is to dispute the claims in Brussels and Dublin that the Good Friday peace agreement depends on there being no hard border. Echoing many in the Democratic Unionist Party , Lord Bew argues that Mrs May’s Brexit deal itself is more of a threat to the peace process, and that smart border controls would be tolerable.
A second idea is to revert to the original December 2017 plan of a backstop covering Northern Ireland alone. This was scuppered because the, on which Mrs May’s government relies for its majority, opposed customs checks in the Irish Sea. Arlene Foster, theleader, is still against, though she also opposes a no-deal Brexit. Yet animals arriving in Larne from the British mainland already undergo checks. Controls at sea are less intrusive than on land.
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