No Brexit deal is better than a bad deal, a leading Democratic Unionist MP has told his party conference
Nigel Dodds was speaking just days after MPs voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's approach to the Brexit talks
MPs voted by 303 to 258 against a motion endorsing the government's negotiating strategy
With just over 40 days to go until the United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the European Union, the DUP deputy leader said Mrs May will have their support if 'necessary changes' are made to the backstop
He told his party's spring conference in Omagh, Co Tyrone, that they want a Brexit deal, 'but we are very clear that a no-deal is better than a bad deal'
'As we leave the EU - for us the guiding star is the union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland,' he said
'We will do nothing to undermine that Union.'The only way to a majority in the House of Commons is with DUP votes
With necessary changes to the backstop, the Prime Minister will have our support.' In her speech to the conference, Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said her party will say no when the deal is 'not suitable', but will also 'not be afraid to yes when the deal is right'
'We will measure any new draft Withdrawal Agreement against our own tests of both protecting the Union and respecting the referendum result,' she said
Mrs Foster added: 'We must work for a sensible deal which works for every part of the United Kingdom
' The news comes as French president Emmanuel Macron is set to give Theresa May a legally-binding assurance that the Irish Brexit backstop is only temporary, softening his line following an eleventh-hour bid by the EU to help get the withdrawal agreement finalised next month
That followed David Gauke saying that crashing out of the European Union without a deal would have a 'very adverse effect' on the UK's economy, security and union with Northern Ireland
Mr Gauke suggested he would back an extension to Article 50 if a deal between the UK and EU was not reached, and said he expected the Government to act 'responsibly' if the current deadlock prevailed
And the Justice Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he hoped it would be made clear in the next 10 days that the UK is in a position to leave with a deal on March 29
But he said: 'If not, then we will have to, in my view, act responsibly and make sure that this country, the economy is protected, our security is protected and the integrity of the Union is protected
'I have very grave concerns about the consequences of leaving without a deal.' Mr Gauke added: 'I think the idea of leaving without a deal on the 29th March would be one that would have a very adverse effect, to put it mildly, on our economy, on our security and on the integrity of the Union and I think my position on that is very clear
' He has previously suggested that Brexit might have to be delayed beyond the scheduled exit date
Mr Gauke said he hoped a deal would have been reached by the next round of Commons votes on February 27, which has been described as a 'high noon' moment for the future of Brexit
'I would hope and expect that the Government would act responsibly and consider the situation
I hope that by the time we get to that point that there will have been a deal reached with the European Union and the House of Commons
'If not, I think my position is very clear and I think the consequences of leaving without a deal would not be in the national interest
' Business Minister Richard Harrington said he did not believe Theresa May would pursue a no-deal Brexit
He told BBC Radio 4's Week In Westminster: 'I actually think, when it comes to it, she will know the disaster that a hard Brexit would be for the British economy and I don't think she'll do it
'No Government can stand by and watch a country plummet earthwards because of a political dogma of a minority of a minority, which is what the ERG are and the people that are pressuring on that end
' Mr Harrington also said he would back moves to give Parliament the power to take no-deal off the table at the end of the month if it seemed likely the UK would crash out of the EU, and could resign if necessary to back the amendment
And he warned: 'There are a significant number of us who feel the same and I think the Chief Whip and the Prime Minister should know that
We don't make the noise of the ERG but that doesn't mean quietly that we're not there
' Tory former chancellor George Osborne urged Mrs May to take the 'threat' of a no-deal Brexit off the table
He said keeping the option open was 'totally unrealistic', telling the programme: 'I also think it's extremely damaging to our economy at the moment because it's forcing all sorts of companies around the world to put into action their contingency plans
For more infomation >> What is a cardiac arrest - Duration: 2:30. 
For more infomation >> Renault Captur 0.9 TCe Dynamique DEZE PRIJS IS INCL AFLEVERERINGS KOSTEN EN BOVAG GARANTIE - Duration: 0:47. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét