Brexit: DUP hold out prospect of customs union

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Media captionCustoms union ‘temporary staging post’



It came as the Tory and Labour leaders agreed a “programme of work” to try to find a way forward to put to MPs.

Earlier, the DUP called the prime minister’s handling of the overall Brexit negotiations “lamentable”.

On Wednesday evening, Sir Jeffrey told BBC Newsline: “We would have preferred a form of Brexit that enables the UK to negotiate new trade agreements with other countries.

“That’s part of the reason for Brexit and maybe a customs union might be a temporary staging post towards that objective.

“We will wait to see what the prime minister brings before Parliament but we are very clear, we want a Brexit that delivers for all of the United Kingdom and that keeps the United Kingdom together – that is our objective.”

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The DUP MP earlier told BBC Radio Ulster that regardless of what emerges in the coming days, the DUP’s stance on the union was “un-persuadable” and they remained in an “influential position” because of the government’s fragile working majority in Parliament.


Analysis: Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI political correspondent.  » Read More at