Tories DUPed in BREXIT talks

A deal put forward by the British Government and the European Union has been scuppered by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) following interventions by DUP leader Arleen Foster. Ms. Foster has said "We have been very clear. Northern Ireland must leave the EU on the same terms as the rest of the United Kingdom. We will not accept any form of regulatory divergence which separates Northern Ireland economically or politically from the rest of the United Kingdom."

The DUP have said the The British Government understands her position and that Ms. May has always said that "that there will be no border in the Irish Sea. The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK is leaving the European Union as a whole and the territorial and economic integrity of the United Kingdom will be protected."

Dublin and The EU have both called on a soft boarder in Ireland. Economically both parts of Ireland are integrated, tourism, workers and trade have been free of boarder checks since the end of the 1990s.

In the Dáil Taoiseach Varadkar that Ireland cannot move on to Phase 2 of Brexit negotiations without the assurances it has been promised by Britain, in relation to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic and stated that "As things stand, the ball is very much in London's court. There is time to put this agreement back on track and we await to hear from London as soon as they're ready."

Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas told reporters in Brussels this morning: "As far as Dublin is concerned, obviously the Irish Government has defended a position which we share, and which we attempted to assert during the ongoing negotiations."