Britain will leave EU single market, customs union as one nation-minister

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS OCTOBER 1, 2017 / 11:47 AM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

Britain will leave EU single market, customs union as one nation-minister

Reuters Staff
1 MIN READ

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Britain will leave the European Union, its single market and customs union as one nation, its minister for Northern Ireland said on Sunday, dashing any hope the region could keep such close economic ties to avoid any return of a hard border.

At a speech at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester, northern England, James Brokenshire drew applause when he said: “We will leave the European Union in 2019 as one United Kingdom. That includes leaving the single market and the customs union so that we can strike new trade deals with the rest of the world.”

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called last month for the EU and Britain to find “unique solutions” to their Brexit logjam, including a bespoke customs union. That would solve the problem of a hard border in Ireland once Britain has left the EU, something that is of great concern to Dublin.

Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Kate Holton

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-nireland/britain-will-leave-eu-single-market-customs-union-as-one-nation-minister-idUSKCN1C61LA

[OnDoutside]

1. You're gonna need a whole heap of popcorn for this one....

This will create a boomtown in smuggling, all the NI / ROI border.

[Not Ruth]

2. Have you ever been to the border?

There really is no such thing, and as far as I know, never has been. You drive and without knowing, are on the other side.

[OnDoutside]

3. Yes, I live in Ireland. In rural areas, it can be difficult at times

On small country roads, otherwise the road markings and signage are different. The IRA smugglers used to smuggle washed diesel over the border at the height of the Troubles. This time though a Brexit will provide a bonanza of opportunities both ways through a border that will be impossible to seal.