Gregory Campbell says 'nonsensical' hard border talk should cease

By Richard O'Reilly

Gregory Campbell says concerns about the negative impact of a post-Brexit hard border are 'ludicrous'.

The East Londonderry MP says such claims can't be justified and 'would not be realised.'  He also added what he sees as the 'vital concerns' at the heart of UK/EU negotiations over the next two years.

He says ""Since last June there have been those in Northern Ireland who have repeatedly claimed there would be a 'hard' border and with it all sorts of ludicrous assertions about how this would negatively impact on border regions and the economy more generally. I and others have equally robustly pointed out that these claims could not be justified and would not be realised. In the past week we have begun to see just how those at the heart of the discussions see things panning out.
 

^{Several groups including 'Border Communities Against Brexit have raised concerns over a 'hard' Irish border}

"Our own Government have said they don't wish to see a hard border, the Irish Government have been equally forthright in saying the same thing. Now the official EU response to Theresa May's letter has indicated that they don't want to see one either. The question now for the naysayers is very straightforward, 'If the British Government, Irish Government, and the EU are all saying they don't want this hard border.

"If all the people involved in the negotiations are saying they don't want something, who then does? All the relevant Governments have now declared their hand in this respect at least, so who is there to implement this absurd mythical claim? The answer is plain to see, it's not wanted, it's not going to happen so we need to move on to important and relevant considerations.
 

^{A protest over the post-Brexit Irish Border took place at Stormont last week}
Mr Campbell added: "In World Trade terms, just 25 years ago Asia accounted for 20% of the world's GDP but in ten years time it is estimated that it will have doubled to 40% while the EU continues to decline.  Businesses can and must do business both inside the EU and more importantly, outside of it. Let's all get on and make a success of our new-found opportunities."