DUP has ‘concerns’ over Chancellor’s no-deal Irish border plan

Philip Hammond is reported to have told a Tory conference fringe event that in the event of no deal, London, under World Trade Organisation rules, would have to reinstate checks.

Ms Foster, speaking at a DUP fringe event, said any extra checks would cause “difficulty” and added that she would be “reiterating” her position on the border issue to the Prime Minister.

The DUP event, held inside the main conference centre in Birmingham, was attended by dozens of Tory members and by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Chief Whip Julian Smith.

Ms Foster was greeted with applause after telling the crowd she would not allow Northern Ireland to become a “semi-detached” part of the UK.

She said: “We are not going to allow the United Kingdom to be broken up by Brussels or by anybody else, Northern Ireland is not about to become a semi-detached part of the United Kingdom.

“We are not bluffing on this issue, we are very clear, our job is to protect the union, our job is to do what is right for Northern Ireland and you can be assured that we will do that.”

Asked about the Chancellor’s reported remarks that if the UK operates on WTO terms, checks at the border will be required, Ms Foster said: “I have concerns.”

She added: “That’s news, because of course up until now we have been saying that it will not be the UK that will be enforcing any borders. If the European Union feel that they need to have a border in Ireland that’s a matter for them if they feel they have to protect their single market in a particular way.

“So Philip Hammond talking about a border is something new, something we want to explore as well, because certainly that’s not my understanding.”

Ms Foster was also asked about negotiations with the EU, and said: “I would welcome clarity. We wait to see the text, words on a piece of paper, in relation to any proposals that are being put forward. I think it’s important we see that because we do remember what happened last December when we hadn’t seen the text.”

Ms Foster was later asked if she would like to see a change in Prime Minister, in light of Boris Johnson’s sustained attack on Theresa May’s Brexit plan.

She said: “I have said very clearly, it is a matter for the Conservative Party. I wouldn’t take very kindly to people coming to my party and saying who they wanted to be leader.

“In our confidence and supply agreement it is between the two parties, not reliant on any particular leader.”

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds later warned that his party would not be “signing up to any backstop” arrangement.

He said: “The danger of this Irish backstop has the potential to not only separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom and any future diversion there may be from it, but it also has the potential to shackle the United Kingdom for generations to come in its relationship with Europe.

“The DUP will not be signing up to any backstop unless we ensure that every line of it complies with our requirements.”

Mrs May said the Government was working on a “new offer” to address the backstop concerns.

She said: “We are working on the proposal that we will put forward to the European Union on this so-called backstop.

“People use this phrase ‘backstop’. What it means is a guarantee to the people of Northern Ireland. We committed to that in December in the joint report.

“I did that because the people of Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom. I think it’s important that we are able to deal with their needs and requirements as we do with people across the UK.

“This concept of introducing no changes in that regulatory environment without that consent of the people of Northern Ireland was in that December joint report.”