Menu
Fri, 22 November 2024

Newsletter sign-up

Subscribe now
The House Live All
A highly skilled workforce that delivers economic growth and regional prosperity demands a local approach Partner content
By Instep UK
Economy
UK Advertising: The Creative Powerhouse Fuelling Global Growth Partner content
Economy
Trusted to deliver Britain’s green growth Partner content
By Trust Ports Partnership
Economy
Taking the next steps for working carers – the need for paid Carer’s Leave Partner content
By TSB
Health
“Quo vadis” for the foundational industries in the UK Partner content
By BASF
Economy
Press releases

Stephen Barclay confirms there will be customs checks in Irish Sea despite PM’s denials

2 min read

Stephen Barclay has confirmed there would be checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain under the new Brexit deal - despite Boris Johnson denying it.


The Brexit Secretary told MPs that “minimal, targeted interventions" would be needed to make sure imports and exports align with the new rules.

Under the PM's plan, Northern Ireland would remain in the UK's customs territory, but would also need to abide by the EU's rules in order to avoid checks at the border with Ireland.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Johnson said: "There will be no checks between Northern Ireland and GB, and there will be no tariffs between Northern Ireland and GB, because we have protected the customs union."

But Mr Barclay appeared to contradict him when answering an urgent question in the Commons.

"For goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland those destined for the European Union will have to comply with European Union rules,” he said.

“To ensure the correct tariffs have applied and that goods comply with the rules of the single regulatory zone, some information will be needed on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland...

“There will be minimal targeted interventions designed to prevent for example trade in endangered species

“We will work with the European Union to eliminate these limited processes as soon as possible after Brexit."

His remarks were pounced on by the DUP, who have said they cannot support the Prime Minister's new Brexit deal because of the need for checks in the Irish Sea.

Nigel Dodds, the party's deputy leader, said: “Let’s have a bit of clarity and honesty in this House. The fact of the matter is that this will adversely affect the most important trade that we have, that’s the point we’ve always made. 

"No checks along the Irish land border yes, but you can’t then have those checks in the Irish Sea."

DUP MP Gavin Robinson added: “It’s frustrating to put it mildly to hear that black is white, to hear contradictory comments that bear no reflection to the text.”

A Downing Street spokesman said "an administrative procedure which is carried out electronically is entirely consistent" with what the Prime Minister told MPs during PMQs.

PoliticsHome Newsletters

PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe

Read the most recent article written by Anahita Hossein-Pour - 'We had to fight tooth and nail': BAME parliamentarians talk representation and tackling racism

Categories

Brexit Economy
Podcast
Engineering a Better World

The Engineering a Better World podcast series from The House magazine and the IET is back for series two! New host Jonn Elledge discusses with parliamentarians and industry experts how technology and engineering can provide policy solutions to our changing world.

NEW SERIES - Listen now