The House of Commons will vote on the amendment today.
Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, with the support of several other MPs, has drafted an amendment to the Brexit bill that would necessitate a hard border on Irish soil.
The amendment, which is reportedly supported by former Brexit Secretary David Davis, reads: “It shall be unlawful for Her Majesty’s Government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain.”
As things stand, Ireland can only maintain its soft border as long as Northern Ireland effectively remains a part of the European Union’s single market and customs union. As the UK has announced its intention to leave both of those institutions, should Northern Ireland also leave, a hard border would be rendered an inevitable and necessary part of Brexit.
David Davis indicates he will back Laurence Robertson's amendment addressing the border in Ireland.#Brexit pic.twitter.com/C9K9CsfD8y
— Denis Doherty (@DenisDoherty) July 16, 2018
Roberts, author of the amendment, was formerly the Chair of the Select Committee on Northern Ireland. The bill is also supported by Sammy Wilson of the DUP, who strongly oppose any difference in economic alignment between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
This amendment, as well as many others, will be voted on in the House of Commons today — as Theresa May tries to protect her Brexit plans for the hard-Brexit factions of her own party. The amendments are largely designed to derail May’s proposals of a free-trade area between the UK and the EU, post-Brexit.
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