Northern Ireland

Neighbouring country is an EU country (Republic Of Ireland) whereas England, Scotland and Wales are
all in one island.

Brussels thinks that that Northern Ireland should remain as a Custom Union. Which mean, pushing the
border back to just England, Scotland and Wales. This would unintentionally be treating Northern
Ireland differently – this will cause Unionist to be angry instead of the Republicans

DUP- Northern Irish Union Party -- heavily relied by the Conservative and Unionist Party to give them
majority in Parliament (they are committed into Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK).

This mean Northern Ireland has a Veto on British Government policy

Solution:

Last option to border is fencing as last time it ended up with 3600 people dying, being shot before they
reach the border as killing them inside the border zone can become a liability for them. And doing that is
precedent as no one wants to experience violence.

They are struggling with solutions to border them

EU also wants to negotiate for some kind of custom controls as they want to stop products that don’t
meet their standards like unsafe or potential poisonous food from crossing the border

The police in Northern Ireland targets hard border but dissident republic, hardline Irish nationalist who
have vowed to carry on attacking symbols of British rule

All of them (EU, Ireland and UK) agreed that they don’t want a hard border

Custom Checks:

They’re talking about some high-tech solution that will allow lorries to cross the borders without being
checked or stopped

Checks could be done away from the border

Exit deal

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement was a key part of this peace process which is open borders
said the Irish Government. “the most tangible symbol of the Peace Process”.

Backup Plan
What does the Conservative Party Need to do?
They need to find a solution that satisfies Brussels, and their unionist colleagues and also the British
public.