The DUP will be voting against Johnson’s deal.
There are fears that the deal agreed by Boris Johnson and the EU could be dead on arrival by the time it reaches a parliamentary vote.
The DUP, in a move that has surprised precisely nobody, have said they will not support the deal, outlining their rationale in a new statement.
The statement, issued on Thursday afternoon, reads: “Following confirmation from the Prime Minister that he believes he has secured a “great new deal” with the European Union, the DUP will be unable to support these proposals in Parliament.”
It goes on to express concern that Northern Ireland could be subject to VAT requirements that the rest of the United Kingdom will not. Much of Northern Ireland’s production will be subjected to the customs rules of the EU.
The DUP also disagree with the premise that continued involvement in the agreement could be decided in Stormont by majority rule. Typically in Stormont, motions of consent can be held up by a Petition of Concern, which means they require cross-community support to pass.
This is the mechanism that the DUP have used in the past in order to block the legalisation of marriage equality.
“These arrangements will become the settled position in these areas for Northern Ireland. This drives a coach and horses through the professed sanctity of the Belfast agreement,” the statement goes on.
“For all of these reasons it is our view that these arrangements would not be in Northern Ireland’s long-term interests.”
The statement can be read in full below.
👇🏻 “The Democratic Unionist Party will be unable to support these proposals in Parliament.” pic.twitter.com/zcisdSLkPy
— DUP (@duponline) October 17, 2019
The latest withdrawal agreement will be voted on in parliament on Saturday.
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