UK-EU SPS Deal Fails to Satisfy Unionists
Draft agreement on food and plant trade rules draws criticism for perceived lack of ambition and continued separation of Northern Ireland.
Carla Rooney
A draft text on sanitary and phytosanitary goods trade rules has been agreed between the UK and the EU.
Gavin Robinson stated the anticipated deal on food and plants does not go far enough. He claims it shows a lack of ambition by the Government.
Robinson also claims Northern Ireland is still treated differently to the rest of the UK in many other aspects of post-Brexit rules, such as customs arrangements.
Robinson questioned the government's approach: "I don’t agree with the Government’s approach to their engagement with the European Union. I take issue with it."
I don’t agree with the Government’s approach to their engagement with the European Union. I take issue with it.
He further criticised the piecemeal negotiation strategy: "But if this is the approach they want to go down, why do it in a whack-a-mole, single-issue, one-off approach, sector by sector? What they should and could be doing is ensuring that Northern Ireland is within the entirety of the United Kingdom when it comes to these negotiations. That we’re not in a separate and distinct structure."
Many unionists claim the current arrangements have undermined Northern Ireland’s place within the UK. Steve Aiken stated this agreement is a GB-only arrangement; Northern Ireland remains within the European Customs Union.
Aiken also claims the implementation of the new Union Customs Code will escalate costs for doing business with Great Britain. Robinson maintains there is no justification for keeping Northern Ireland separate and distinct from the rest of the United Kingdom if the government is serious about its approach.
Robinson asserted: "When I say this Government lacks ambition, my question to them is this – if they are willing to ignore 2016, ignore the referendum and agree alignment in so many areas of life, why do they continue to keep Northern Ireland separate from the rest of the United Kingdom?"
He concluded the continued separation is both impractical and a constitutional affront. "That is something that we will be talking to them about, have raised with them, and will continue to raise because it is not logistically or sensibly possible, and it’s a constitutional affront for them to keep us separate from the rest of our country when they are accepting alignment in so many facets of trade."