TORY ‘rebels’ are in talks with the DUP about agreeing a super-soft Norway-style Brexit – The Sun can reveal. Ex-Minister Nick Boles held talks with the DUP’s Sammy Wilson and Gavin Robinson on Thursday – 24 hours before today’s crunch vote. And Mr Boles has now modified a ‘Common Market 2.0’ proposal he plans to […]
TORY ‘rebels’ are in talks with the DUP about agreeing a super-soft Norway-style Brexit – The Sun can reveal.
Ex-Minister Nick Boles held talks with the DUP’s Sammy Wilson and Gavin Robinson on Thursday – 24 hours before today’s crunch vote.
And Mr Boles has now modified a ‘Common Market 2.0’ proposal he plans to put before MPs in a second day of voting on Brexit alternatives on Monday in a bid to win their support.
It would guarantee no UK-EU customs checks for agrifoods.
The revelation comes after DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds stunned Westminster by opening the door to a softer Brexit just moments after the PM’s crushing defeat.
He exclaimed he would even be happy to “stay” in the European Union rather than risk Northern Ireland’s position by seeing economic and trade barriers go up between the province and Britain.
He said: “We will measure whatever options are available going forward in terms of does it deliver Brexit and does it remain integrity of the UK economically and politically.”
Under a Norway-style Brexit, Britain would remain in the single market and a customs pact with the EU – removing any need for an Irish ‘backstop’ to prevent a hard border with Ireland.
DUP insiders have long argued that one of the biggest worries about the PM’s deal is that Britain could “leave Northern Ireland behind” after Brexit by putting up a virtual customs barrier down the Irish sea.
One source said they were spooked when Tory leadership contender Boris Johnson failed to reassure them he would maintain regulatory alignment with Northern Ireland after Brexit.
Critically it abstained on the Common Market 2.0 proposition in last week’s first round of Indicative Votes – when none of eight different Brexit proposals won a majority.
Earlier this year, sources claimed the DUP was open to a soft Brexit where the whole of the UK would sign up to a customs union with the EU.
The position would be fiercely opposed by Tory Brexiteers as it would forbid trade deals with the rest of the world.
Critically in last week’s first round of ‘Indicative Votes’ the 10 DUP MPs abstained.
Mr Boles said: “The DUP have always been absolutely clear that one red line for them is that there are no red lines with Britain.
“We have been in conversation with them to explore common ground.”
