Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has said that the UK Government must urgently outline how they plan to support NI businesses to ensure they are not disadvantaged by new Border Control Posts at ports and airports.

Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:

“We now have it in the clearest of terms that there will be an Irish Sea border come 1 January 2021.  We had warned that this was sadly inevitable if we continued on the direction of travel set in December 2017 that the UK Government has allowed to continue.  It is unforgivable that we have ended up here.

“For all the big talk and bluster, Northern Ireland will now have to deal with Border Control Posts at our ports and airports.  This places a huge burden on businesses here who will be expected to be totally prepared for the changes in just over seven months time, amidst the crisis many are currently facing due to Covid-19.

“The EU is not without fault here, intransigence on its part played a big role in leading us here, nor are those who made it all about the border on the island of Ireland.  The damage they warned that could be caused by checks on the island could be ten-fold now if there is disruption caused by east/west checks.  If they are serious about protecting Northern Ireland then they need to be just as vocal now. 

“We urgently need to hear from the UK Government on how they are going to assist Northern Ireland in getting ready for this.  We didn’t ask for it, nor do we want it.   We should not be expected to bear the cost.  The Northern Ireland Executive must make a strong case for mitigation and for an urgent road map from HMG on how they are going to ensure that businesses in Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged by what they have agreed to.”