British PM keen to avoid ‘return to borders of the past’

British prime minister Theresa May said in Belfast on Monday that she wants a "practical solution" to the problems caused by Brexit and that no one wants a return "to the borders of the past".

Ms May on her first visit to Northern Ireland as prime minister held talks lasting about 90 minutes at Stormont Castle with DUP First Minister Arlene Foster and the Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Ms Foster and Mr McGuinness in separate comments after meeting Ms May reflected the continuing divisions in Northern Ireland post-Brexit, while the prime minister described the talks as "constructive" and "positive".

Mr McGuinness said “there is absolutely no good news whatsoever about Brexit”. He referred to how 56 per cent of the people of Northern Ireland voted for the UK to remain within the European Union

"On the issue of Brexit I speak for the people of the North. And the people of the North who are unionist, nationalist republican have made it very clear that they see their future in Europe, " said Mr McGuinness.

‘Unionist majority’

Ms Foster strongly disputed this assessment in her subsequent comments to the press. She said that in the Assembly elections in May the DUP won 38 seats while Sinn Féin secured 28. “So, I think we jointly speak for the people of Northern Ireland. I speak for the unionist majority, he speaks for the nationalist majority. But together we should be looking to achieve what is best for all of the people of Northern Ireland and not try to make political point-scoring out of what has occurred,” she said.

Rather than speak to journalists gathered outside Stormont Castle Ms May made a statement and took one question from a pooled reporter in the castle. She said she wanted to achieve a Brexit deal with the EU which was “in the best interests of the whole of the United Kingdom”.

As British home secretary and while campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU she warned that Brexit would result in border restrictions between the Republic and Northern Ireland. "If you look ahead, what is going to happen when the UK leaves the European Union is that of course Northern Ireland will have a Border with the Republic of Ireland, which will remain a member of the European Union," said Ms May.

“But we’ve had a common travel area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland many years before either country was a member of the European Union. Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past,” she added.

"What we do want to do is to find a way through this . . . a deal which is in the best interests of the whole of the United Kingdom, " said Ms May.

The prime minister promised to deliver on last November’s Fresh Start Agreement which was designed to stabilise the powersharing administration at Stormont. But she made clear there would be no attempt to alter the UK referendum decision to quit Europe.

“Brexit means Brexit. But we will be making a success of it and I am clear that the Northern Ireland Executive and the other devolved governments will be involved in our discussions as we set forward the UK position,” she said.

“I recognise there’s a particular circumstance in Northern Ireland because of . . . the Republic of Ireland, that will be remaining in the EU. We’ve had constructive talks about the will that we all have to find a way through this which is in the best interests of Northern Ireland and the best interest of the United Kingdom as a whole,” she added.

Frank exchange

Ms Foster and Mr McGuinness held joint and separate talks with Ms May.

“Those discussions were forthright discussions. From my perspective they were frank discussions about my view that there is no good news whatsoever about Brexit,” said Mr McGuinness after the meeting.

He said Brexit posed “huge” challenges and difficulties that must be addressed. “We are totally opposed to any Border of any description whatsoever whether it be for trade or the free movement of people.”

Mr McGuinness said that “billions of pounds would be lost to Northern Ireland” through the UK exit.

Ms Foster said she and Mr McGuinness had “good discussions” with Ms May about the free movement of goods and people.

“One of the fundamental points I put it to her is that there must be no internal borders within the United Kingdom and I was very clear with her on that. And she responded positively to that. So there will be no internal borders within the United Kingdom,” said Ms Foster.

She said that “those people who continue to resist the decision of the people of the United Kingdom will have to answer for themselves”, but that she and Ms May were very clear the referendum result “was a decision for all of the people of the United Kingdom”.