Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann MLA has stated that it is naïve to think that Michel Barnier is an honest broker in Brexit negotiations - that was never his remit.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann MLA said:

“We`ve heard a lot of feverish rhetoric over the last few days about Michel Barnier`s visit to Northern Ireland. I for one never took Mr Barnier to be ‘an honest broker’ in the Brexit negotiations. That was never his remit and it is naïve to expect him to be. He made that very clear when Jim Nicholson MEP and I met him in March. After we met him I believe that Mr Barnier understands the unionist position perfectly well, but is using any leverage he can to raise the temperature in negotiations with the UK Government as they represent the whole of the United Kingdom`s interests. 

“However he does need to be clear that no matter how much the EU may wish it, Northern Ireland`s constitutional position as an integral part of the United Kingdom is not up for negotiation to help ease the difficulty which the Republic of Ireland now finds itself in. They must realise if a sensible deal is not reached their farmers could face financial ruin.

“Like most people, I want the best deal possible for Northern Ireland, but that cannot be at the expense of our constitutional position within the most important Union of all - the Union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Any deal where Northern Ireland would be treated as a place apart within the UK won`t wash with unionists and would effectively rip up the Belfast Agreement and the principle of consent.

“The ‘backstop’ included in the December document was and remains totally unacceptable to all shades of unionism and to be honest should never have been included in the final document. It`s all very well for the DUP to engage in some sabre rattling at this stage but given the power that they supposedly exercise over Theresa May`s government, I would have thought that they should have made clear to the government that the ‘backstop’ document was unacceptable before it was published in December and insisted that it was removed. The next time that a crucial stage in negotiations are reached, there`s no point in the DUP attempting to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

“The Ulster Unionist Party will continue to engage regularly with our own Government, Mr Barnier and EU negotiators to make our points again and again.”