SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said that comments from Donald Tusk must serve as a final wake-up call to the British Government on the Irish border.
Addressing the European Parliament, President Tusk confirmed that there would be no Brexit withdrawal agreement and no transition deal until a resolution is found which prevents a hard border in Ireland.
The SDLP Leader said: “Up to this point in the Brexit negotiations, it appears the agenda of the British Government was to travel in hope, fudge language and desperately avoid making any substantial decisions.
“It seems this strategy of stretching out the negotiations for as long as possible was designed to draw the European Union into making concessions to the British position, particularly in terms of a transition deal.
“Today’s statements in the European Parliament must bring an end to that cynical strategy.
“The comments from Donald Tusk couldn’t be clearer – the European Union are not bluffing.
“They are not bluffing on their commitment that there can be no hardening of the Irish border and they are not bluffing in saying that no deal will be done until this fundamental issue is resolved.
“The British Government are therefore left with only one choice.
“Either accept that a hard border in Ireland can only be avoided if the North remains in full alignment with the single market and customs union or come to the broader economic sense that all of the UK should remain in the customs union and single market.
“Those are the choices on the table, anything else would be an act of massive economic and political self-harm.
“It is now abundantly clear that the British Government have failed to come up with a solution of their own, therefore they should finally wake up to some logic and economic sense.”
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