The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Arlene Foster (pictured) stated on Monday that her party strongly opposes any Brexit deal that would impose different economic regulations in Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. Foster said that DUP, Northern Ireland's largest unionist party upon which Prime Minister Theresa May's minority government relies for support in Westminster, had been "very clear” that "Northern Ireland must leave the European Union on the same terms as the rest of the UK." DUP leader also stressed that her party strongly opposes any Brexit settlement that would separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, in an economic or political sense.
The draft agreement between the EU and UK includes an obligation by London to "maintain regulatory alignment" between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland after Britain officially departs from the customs union and the single market. However, Foster called for a "sensible Brexit" that would preserve a common travel area and a time-limited implementation period, reiterating that Prime Minister May has been clear about UK leaving the EU as a whole.
DUP head also strongly criticized Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's government stance on the Northern Ireland issue in Brexit negotiations. "The Republic of Ireland government for their part claim to be guarantors of the Belfast Agreement [also known as the Good Friday Agreement] but they are clearly seeking to unilaterally change the Belfast Agreement without our input or consent and of course we will not stand for that," Foster said.
