N. Ireland ‘backstop’ option sparks fresh Brexit tensions

Prime Minister Theresa May warned on Wednesday that Britain would never allow the EU to "undermine" its constitutional integrity, as she rejected a draft divorce treaty unveiled by the bloc's chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
"The draft legal text will, if implemented, undermine the UK common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the UK by creating a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea and no UK prime minister could ever agree to it," May told parliament.

Speaking to reporters earlier Wednesday a spokesman for the prime minister's office said, "We agreed to the joint report. The prime minister is clear that she doesn't agree to the text that has been put forward today."

The draft legal agreement published by the EU earlier Wednesday said British-ruled Northern Ireland could stay part of a customs union with the bloc after Brexit if a better solution is not found.

The "backstop" proposal in a draft Brexit withdrawal agreement unveiled by Barnier is set to stoke fresh tensions between London and Brussels.

"My personal opinion is that this backstop will not call into question the constitutional or institutional order of the UK," Barnier told a news conference.

"I'm not trying to provoke, I'm not trying to create any shockwaves," Barnier added, calling on Britain to "keep calm and stay pragmatic."
   [france24.com]
 28/2/18
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