Yahoo Finance Lord Lamont: Irish border issue ‘exaggerated’ in Brexit talks
Former Chancellor Lord Lamont has entered the row over the consequences of Brexit on the Irish border, saying the issue has been ‘exaggerated’ in negotiations.
Labour frontbencher Barry Gardiner has today apologised for saying the border issue has been “played up” and describing the Good Friday Agreement as a “shibboleth.”
Giving a speech in Brussels, Lord Lamont said nobody wanted to see the peace deal – which was signed 20 years ago today – derailed.
But the Conservative peer backed Mr Gardiner’s view that the difficulties created by Brexit for Irish border arrangements had been overstated.
“Nobody but nobody wants the Good Friday Agreement to be anything other than continued,” he told a think tank event.
“To be absolutely honest about it, the European Union did not play a part in the negotiations and this is an issue that should not be, in my mind, as much of an issue as it is.
“David Trimble, who got the Noble prize and who was the architect (of the peace deal), has said it was rubbish to think that the Irish border question could derail the Good Friday Agreement.
“I must say I think there are obviously competing tensions between different factions in Ireland, between Ireland and the EU and between them and ourselves.
“But I do not believe it is impossible to find a solution to that.”
The pro-Brexit peer quoted the head of HM Revenue and Customs, Jon Thompson, who told MPs last year that: “We not believe we require any infrastructure at the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland under any circumstances.”
Lord Lamont added: “I hope that issue will not be pounced upon.
“I accept that many people are very serious about this, worried about it, but I think that to some extent that can be exaggerated.”
The Times reported today that Brexit Secretary David Davis put difficulties in finding a solution for the Irish border question down to the “strong influence” on the Irish government by Sinn Fein since Leo Varadkar became Irish Prime Minister in June 2017.
Tomorrow’s Times, Ireland Edition front page: pic.twitter.com/B8SlM1ucTI
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The Irish government issued a statement denying that has been the case and reiterating its concerns on the border issue.
“From the outset the Irish government has been clear that the UK’s decision to leave the EU presents significant challenges to the Good Friday agreement as the foundation of the Northern Ireland peace process,” a spokesman said.
Elmar Brok MEP, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group and senior ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also said that the Irish border issue remains “very difficult.”
Speaking at the same event as Lord Lamont, Mr Brok reiterated that “there should not be a hardening of the border” and said the issue could still bring down any Brexit deal.
“Without an agreement on the Irish question there will be no Withdrawal Agreement,” he said.
“Without the Withdrawal Agreement there will be no negotiation about a free trade agreement or anything else.”
Lord Lamont responded: “I do beg you, don’t play with fire. Please be careful. Please choose your word carefully.
“The British government has no intention of not paying attention to the Good Friday Agreement.
“The British government has a vested interested. This is our security – of our country and Irish lives and British lives.
“Do not play with fire on that issue. We will not have a hard border. We have said that again and again and again.”
