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David Davis: Northern Ireland plan would apply to whole UK David Davis: Northern Ireland plan would apply to whole UK
(35 minutes later)
David Davis has told MPs that the government is seeking UK-wide “regulatory alignment” after Brexit, but minutes later the DUP said it had rejected the idea as proposed in Irish border negotiating text on Monday.David Davis has told MPs that the government is seeking UK-wide “regulatory alignment” after Brexit, but minutes later the DUP said it had rejected the idea as proposed in Irish border negotiating text on Monday.
The Brexit secretary told MPs in answer to an urgent question that any deal achieved for Northern Ireland would apply to the entire country in response to the insistent demands of a string of Scottish, Welsh and English MPs. The Brexit secretary told MPs in answer to an urgent question that any deal achieved for Northern Ireland would apply to the entire UK in response to the demands of a string of Scottish, Welsh and English MPs.
He also insisted that did not mean retaining exactly the same rules as the EU or remaining in the single market.He also insisted that did not mean retaining exactly the same rules as the EU or remaining in the single market.
Davis told MPs: “The presumption of the discussion was that everything we talked about applied to the whole United Kingdom. Alignment isn’t harmonisation. It isn’t having exactly the same rules. It is sometimes having mutually recognised rules, mutually recognised inspection – that is what we are aiming at.”Davis told MPs: “The presumption of the discussion was that everything we talked about applied to the whole United Kingdom. Alignment isn’t harmonisation. It isn’t having exactly the same rules. It is sometimes having mutually recognised rules, mutually recognised inspection – that is what we are aiming at.”
But Nigel Dodds, the DUP MP, said in a press conference shortly afterwards that his party had refused to sign up to the text the prime minister was ready to agree on with the European Union, forcing the British government to abandon finalising the Brexit deal on Monday.But Nigel Dodds, the DUP MP, said in a press conference shortly afterwards that his party had refused to sign up to the text the prime minister was ready to agree on with the European Union, forcing the British government to abandon finalising the Brexit deal on Monday.
Dodds said his party had only received draft proposals on the Irish border from the government on Monday morning. “Upon immediate receipt of that text we indicated to senior government representatives that it was clearly unacceptable in its current form,” he said.Dodds said his party had only received draft proposals on the Irish border from the government on Monday morning. “Upon immediate receipt of that text we indicated to senior government representatives that it was clearly unacceptable in its current form,” he said.
Davis addressed MPs after Labour’s Keir Starmer requested an urgent question on the state of EU negotiations.Davis addressed MPs after Labour’s Keir Starmer requested an urgent question on the state of EU negotiations.
The shadow Brexit secretary described Monday’s developments – in which Theresa May appeared to step back from a deal after a last-minute intervention by the DUP – as “an embarrassment”.The shadow Brexit secretary described Monday’s developments – in which Theresa May appeared to step back from a deal after a last-minute intervention by the DUP – as “an embarrassment”.
“The last 24 hours have given new meaning to the phrase ‘coalition of chaos’. Yesterday morning No 10 was briefing that a deal would be signed. There was a high expectation that the PM would make a triumphant statement to the house. By teatime, we had a 49-second press conference saying that the deal was off,” said Starmer.“The last 24 hours have given new meaning to the phrase ‘coalition of chaos’. Yesterday morning No 10 was briefing that a deal would be signed. There was a high expectation that the PM would make a triumphant statement to the house. By teatime, we had a 49-second press conference saying that the deal was off,” said Starmer.
Inside the EU, both Ireland and Northern Ireland are part of the single market and customs union so share the same regulations and standards, allowing a soft or invisible border between the two. Inside the EU, both Ireland and Northern Ireland (as part of the UK) are part of the single market and customs union so share the same regulations and standards.
Britain’s exit from the EU – taking Northern Ireland with it – risks a return to a hard or policed border. The only way to avoid this post-Brexit is for regulations on both sides to remain more or less the same in key areas including food, animal welfare, medicines and product safety. The only way to avoid a hardening of the border after Brexit is to ensure regulations and standards on both sides remain more or less the same in areas like food, medicines and so on. 
Early drafts of the agreement Britain hoped to get signed off on Monday said there would be “no divergence” from EU rules that “support north-south cooperation”, later changed to “continued alignment” in a formulation that appeared to allow for subtle divergences. This might imply a permanent acceptance of EU rules – something that would be anathema to hardline UK Brexiters and the DUP, who reject anything that would "decouple" the North from the UK. 
But it raised new questions about who would oversee it and how disputes might be resolved. It was also clearly still a step too far for the DUP. David Davis told parliament that regulatory alignment would not mean adopting exactly the same rules as the EU but "mutually recognised" rules and inspections.
- However, an official in Brussels countered that regulatory alignment would mean that the UK would have to implement rules from Brussels without having any influence over them.
He said May herself should be answering questions, and the delays had been caused not by disagreements with the EU, on “the other side of the negotiating table”, but a “fallout with those supposedly on your own side”.He said May herself should be answering questions, and the delays had been caused not by disagreements with the EU, on “the other side of the negotiating table”, but a “fallout with those supposedly on your own side”.
Dodds also spoke during the parliamentary debate, and focused his ire on the Irish government after leaks to the media appeared to suggest the UK was ready to concede on issues relating to Northern Ireland.Dodds also spoke during the parliamentary debate, and focused his ire on the Irish government after leaks to the media appeared to suggest the UK was ready to concede on issues relating to Northern Ireland.
He said the republic had advanced its interests in an “aggressive and anti-unionist way”, which he called disgraceful, and had “set back Anglo-Irish relations and damaged the relationships built up within Northern Ireland in terms of the devolution settlement, and that is going to take a long time to repair”.He said the republic had advanced its interests in an “aggressive and anti-unionist way”, which he called disgraceful, and had “set back Anglo-Irish relations and damaged the relationships built up within Northern Ireland in terms of the devolution settlement, and that is going to take a long time to repair”.
The politician said there should be no doubt that the DUP stood strong for the union and Northern Ireland’s place in that union.The politician said there should be no doubt that the DUP stood strong for the union and Northern Ireland’s place in that union.
His attacks were addressed more at the behaviour of the republic than any wording agreed by the UK government, but he did warn: “We will not allow any settlement to be agreed which causes a divergence politically or economically of Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, because to do so would not just be politically damaging but would be economically catastrophic for everyone in Northern Ireland – unionist, nationalist, Brexiter or remainer.” His attacks were addressed more at the behaviour of the Irish Republic than any wording agreed by the UK government, but he did warn: “We will not allow any settlement to be agreed which causes a divergence politically or economically of Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, because to do so would not just be politically damaging but would be economically catastrophic for everyone in Northern Ireland – unionist, nationalist, Brexiter or remainer.”
Dodds also praised the calls for a UK-wide agreement from MPs across the country and across parties, telling reporters later that his party wanted a “sensible Brexit”.Dodds also praised the calls for a UK-wide agreement from MPs across the country and across parties, telling reporters later that his party wanted a “sensible Brexit”.
Davis said his government was close to concluding the first stage of negotiations – focused on citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the divorce bill – and there was no question of leaving any part of the UK behind.Davis said his government was close to concluding the first stage of negotiations – focused on citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the divorce bill – and there was no question of leaving any part of the UK behind.
“So when the the first minister of Wales complains about it, or the first minister of Scotland says it’s a reason to start banging the tattered drum of independence, or the mayor of London says it justifies a hard border round the M25, I say they are making a foolish mistake.”“So when the the first minister of Wales complains about it, or the first minister of Scotland says it’s a reason to start banging the tattered drum of independence, or the mayor of London says it justifies a hard border round the M25, I say they are making a foolish mistake.”
However, he will need to satisfy key Brexit-supporting MPs on his own benches who could be nervous about anything that could limit the UK’s ability to diverge from the EU after Brexit.However, he will need to satisfy key Brexit-supporting MPs on his own benches who could be nervous about anything that could limit the UK’s ability to diverge from the EU after Brexit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg offered his gratitude to the DUP for ensuring that the government stuck to its own policy. He said: “And is it not essential that the red lines on maintaining the UK and on regulatory divergence whence the benefits of leaving come are indelible red lines?”Jacob Rees-Mogg offered his gratitude to the DUP for ensuring that the government stuck to its own policy. He said: “And is it not essential that the red lines on maintaining the UK and on regulatory divergence whence the benefits of leaving come are indelible red lines?”
The minister’s answer was brief. “The red line for me is delivering the best Brexit for Britain and that is what I’ll do,” replied Davis.The minister’s answer was brief. “The red line for me is delivering the best Brexit for Britain and that is what I’ll do,” replied Davis.
Asked after the debate whether the type of alignment being discussed by Davis might be acceptable to Brexiters, Rees-Mogg added: “In financial services the principle of equivalence is already established and that is achievable alongside divergence.”Asked after the debate whether the type of alignment being discussed by Davis might be acceptable to Brexiters, Rees-Mogg added: “In financial services the principle of equivalence is already established and that is achievable alongside divergence.”
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, argued that the EU would only be likely to accept such alignment in relation to Northern Ireland.Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, argued that the EU would only be likely to accept such alignment in relation to Northern Ireland.
“If the UK wanted Northern Ireland to stay in parts of single market that are not politically sensitive, like farming, I guess the EU would agree. Cherry-picking for Northern Ireland alone could be acceptable, for the sake of the peace process,” he told the Guardian. “If the UK wanted Northern Ireland to stay in parts of the single market that are not politically sensitive, like farming, I guess the EU would agree. Cherry-picking for Northern Ireland alone could be acceptable, for the sake of the peace process,” he told the Guardian.