Ministers to declare that the Irish border will remain open after Brexit to keep Ulster’s peace intact

MINISTERS will today declare that the Irish border will remain wide open after Brexit to keep Ulster’s peace intact.

Under a new government negotiating proposal unveiled today, there will be no customs posts at all between Northern Ireland and the republic.

New negotiating proposal unveiled today will announce there will be no customs posts at all between Northern Ireland and the republic

Instead, a new trade border when Britain leaves the EU would exist only on paper as all British-Irish trade will be given special exemptions and waivers.

The surprise plan fulfils a government vow never to return to the hard border of the past that blighted the 30 year long troubles.

A UK Government source said: “Both sides needs to show flexibility and imagination when it comes to the border issue in Northern Ireland and that is exactly what our latest position paper will do.

“Top of our list is to agree upfront no physical border infrastructure — that would mean a return to the border posts of the past and is completely unacceptable to the UK.”

The proposal – in a new government paper published today on Ireland – comes ahead of the next round of Brexit talks in Brussels in 11 days time.

It also offers to keep free movement for all Irish and British citizens between each other’s countries by maintaining the long standing Common Travel Area, that predates Brexit.

Agreeing a solution over what to do about the open Irish border is one of three priorities that the EU has laid down about Britain’s exit terms before any trade deal talks can begin.

The bold proposals received an initial welcome from Dublin last night.

New Irish PM Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has threatened to veto any progress on a trade deal unless Britain finds a way to keep the border open.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has threatened to veto any progress unless Britain finds a way to keep the border open

An Irish Government spokesman said: “The Government welcomes the immanent publication of the UK’s position paper on Northern Ireland and Ireland in the context of the Brexit negotiation process.

“Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade have called for greater clarity from the British Government on its approach to the negotiations, and publication of the new paper is timely and helpful in this regard.

“The emphasis on the priority areas identified by the Government, including the Common Travel Area, the Good Friday Agreement, North/South cooperation and avoiding a hard border, is welcome. “Protecting the Peace Process is crucial and it must not become a bargaining chip in the negotiations.”