Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has described the behaviour on display in Parliament as deeply depressing and creating deeper divisions in our country, making it a week to forget.
Lord Empey said:
“The behaviour in Parliament this week looked more like rival football supporters arguing over a decision of the referee, rather than a deliberative Parliament that was working to find solutions to a national crisis. It was deeply depressing and is creating greater divisions in our country which will take years to heal.
“We are presenting Brussels with no incentive to reach an agreement with the Government because they cannot be sure that any change to the Backstop would pass through either House, and London continues to fail to put a meaningful alternative on the table. Opponents of Brexit are also trying to overturn the result of the referendum.
“The Ulster Unionist Party is the only Party that has brought forward any written proposal that tries to address the worst aspects of the Backstop, yet at the same time fully respects the right of the single market to protect its consumers.
“We also recognise that not all the problems are technical - indeed we see more politics here than practicalities. Yet at the end of the day, both of these aspects must be addressed.
“With Government almost paralysed, we already see the vultures circling to take advantage of the chaos; Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, now says she could support Jeremy Corbyn as a caretaker Prime Minister! Well we know that would be in return for a second Scottish independence referendum, courtesy of John McDonnell the shadow Chancellor.
“Ongoing Brexit chaos is going to seriously damage the Union if it is not resolved. With the changing Parliamentary arithmetic, the DUP's influence is evaporating. Thursday's vote on a recess for the Conservative Party Conference was defeated by 17 votes even with the DUP supporting the Government, so unionists can no longer rely on the DUP to ride to the rescue of the Union.
“To secure the Union, we need widely based support in Westminster. Throwing in one's lot with the ERG wing of the Conservative Party will not achieve that. Indeed, there are some pro Brexit supporters who would be happy to get a clean Brexit, even if that meant sacrificing Northern Ireland's place in the Union, and their support for Scotland is not much better.
“We need a solution. In the remaining time available we must work for a deal. A deal works for Unionists as well as all people in the UK. The political chaos in London benefits nobody.”