“Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past.”
Theresa May has confirmed that maintaining the common travel area between Northern Ireland and the Republic will be a top priority during the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
In her speech this afternoon, the British Prime Minister confirmed that “we will deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the common travel area with the Republic of Ireland.” She didn’t elaborate further on what this actually involves, or mention how this will work without the Custom’s Union, however, she did state that “nobody wants to return to the borders of the past.”
“The family ties and bonds of affection that unite our two countries mean that there will always be a special relationship between us,” she said, adding that maintaining the common travel area with the Republic would be “an important part of the talks”.
4: We will deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland. pic.twitter.com/4HYq5JJBR3
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
May also confirmed that any finalised EU-UK deal will be put to a vote in the UK Parliament and that her Government are pursuing “a Brexit that works for the whole UK”, before adding that some EU powers will be passed to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Regarding passport and border control, she said that the UK “will get control of the number of people coming to the UK from the EU.” Again, she didn’t elaborate on how this will be done.
Theresa May: There will always be a special relationship between UK and Ireland and maintaining a common travel area will be a priority pic.twitter.com/KJfT1kcEAE
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 17, 2017
5: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. pic.twitter.com/vfORKs1jnn
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
In terms of the upcoming elections in Northern Ireland, May said that her aim is “strengthen bonds in UK and hope that this spirit of unity carries into the upcoming Northern Ireland elections”
The British PM was insistent that the decision to leave the EU wasn’t one that will see them “turn inwards and cut the UK off from the rest of the world”. May also stressed that Britain would not like to see any potential unraveling of the EU because it’s in their “national interest” for the EU to succeed.
She also added that Britain will pursue a bold free trade agreement with the EU – but this will not mean membership of the Single Market. “I want a customs agreement with the EU and have an open mind on how we do it – I want to remove as many barriers to trade as possible.”
Here’s her 12 point strategy in full:
1: We will provide certainty wherever we can. pic.twitter.com/2Kbai8MkZ6
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
2: Leaving the European Union will mean that our laws will be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. pic.twitter.com/vtmRzb74TE
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
3: A stronger Britain demands that we strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/JybNhdnr9R
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
4: We will deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland. pic.twitter.com/4HYq5JJBR3
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
5: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. pic.twitter.com/vfORKs1jnn
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
6: We want to guarantee rights of EU citizens living in Britain & rights of British nationals in other member states, as early as we can. pic.twitter.com/5gReg4KwnM
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
7: Not only will the government protect the rights of workers set out in European legislation, we will build on them. pic.twitter.com/TZgWqsWXWm
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
8: We will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. pic.twitter.com/FiRylZGDq0
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
9: It is time for Britain to get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation. pic.twitter.com/Kt8qRYMWTr
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
10. We will welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives. pic.twitter.com/cxlEmGywXx
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
11: We will continue to work closely with our European allies in foreign and defence policy even as we leave the EU itself. pic.twitter.com/lZaO9qhmyS
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
12: We believe a phased process of implementation will be in the interests of Britain, the EU institutions and member states. pic.twitter.com/5gMEb1Klpk
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017
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