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BREXIT BRIEF
BRIEF
BREXIT
Brexit Brief Issue 43: 22nd June 2018
Introduction
Brexit Brief provides up-to-date information on the progress and content of the UK-EU negotiations, and brings
together relevant statements and policy positions from key players in Ireland, the UK and EU.
The Brief is part of a wider communications programme covering the work of the IIEA’s UK Project Group –
including commentaries, speeches, texts and event reports – which are highlighted on the Institute’s website.
(www.iiea.com)
Section One: State of Play protected...The EU’s proposal, with comparisons
The question of the backstop between the present arrangements and the default
situation post-Brexit, is illustrated in the diagram
Less than three weeks away from the 28-29 June European on the following page.
Council summit, the UK Government produced a paper However, the EU’s backstop proposal has presented
proposing a time-limited and partial customs union with difficulties for the UK, as it could be seen to create
the EU until December 2021. The proposal aims to barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and Britain,
resolve the Northern Ireland border issue, and would only resulting in opposition from the DUP in particular. As
be activated if the terms of the future relationship are not such, finding a ‘legally operable’ text for the backstop has
agreed by the end of the transitional period in 2020. preoccupied discussions in the UK in recent months.
It is worth re-examining the EU’s proposal for the What has the UK proposed?
backstop in the draft withdrawal treaty, which would
essentially have allowed for a continued Customs Union On 7 June 2018, the UK Cabinet Office published a paper
between Northern Ireland and the EU, with regulatory outlining a proposed time-limited temporary customs
alignment with relevant elements of the Single Market: arrangement, noting two options for further discussion:
A common regulatory area comprising the Union 1. The territory of the UK as a whole would form part of
and the United Kingdom in respect of Northern the EU’s custom territory;
Ireland is hereby established. The common
OR
regulatory area shall constitute an area without
internal borders in which the free movement of 2. The creation of a new customs territory comprising the
goods is ensured and North-South cooperation customs territories of the UK and the EU.
BREXIT BRIEF 043 | JUNE 2018BREXIT
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In either option, the UK’s proposal differs from that of the feasible with the whole UK. On regulatory alignment, we
EU in a number of key areas, including: have been pragmatic and developed the least disruptive
system for citizens and businesses on both sides.”
• The customs alignment would apply to the UK
as a whole, and not just Northern Ireland. From the UK The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, also responded to the UK
perspective, this would prevent barriers to trade between proposal, raising particular concerns about the temporary
Northern Ireland and Britain. nature of the proposed arrangement and noting the absence
of the issue of regulatory arrangements: “My initial view
• The arrangement would be time-limited, with is that it is a step in the right direction it is welcome but
the UK stating its preference for it to expire no later than it does fall short […] because it deals with the customs
December 2021, and it would only be activated should aspects of the border rather than the regulatory aspect. In
there be a delay in the negotiation and implementation of fairness to the government in London, they accept that
a final customs arrangement between the UK and the EU. and they make it clear that this is only about the customs
element of the backstop and we do have a difficulty with
Notably, the paper proposes that the UK would adhere any sort of deadline [….] the backstop should apply until
to the EU’s Common Commercial Policy (CCP) only such time as there is an alternative arrangement, a new
where it is required to allow the customs arrangement EU-UK relationship which avoids a hard border. So just
to function (for example, applying the EU’s common putting off a hard border for two, three, six or twenty
external tariff at the UK’s external border). In this context, years is not enough. It has to be permanent.”
the UK proposes to use the period of the arrangement to
negotiate free trade agreements with other global partners Prime Minister May narrowly defeats rebels over
(though it would be unlikely to be in a position to ‘meaningful vote’ amendment
implement these agreements, even in the equally unlikely
event that these could be agreed before December 2021). Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly escaped a Brexit
bill defeat after the Government defeated an amendment
Tariffs, quotas, rules of origin and customs processes, drafted by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve
including declarations on all UK-EU trade, would be following a last minute concession. The ‘meaningful vote’
eliminated for the duration of the customs arrangement. amendment would have given MPs the power to direct
Furthermore, as different rules for VAT currently apply the UK government in the withdrawal negotiations,
to the movements of goods between EU Member States should certain conditions or deadlines not be met. This
and other global partners, the UK proposes an application could potentially have given MPs the power to stop
of “common cross-border processes and procedures for Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal.
VAT”.
The final House of Commons vote rejected the last rebel
Importantly for Irish exporters and importers, some of Tory amendment by 319 votes to 303, removing the last
whom use the UK as a ‘land-bridge’ for goods travelling obstacle to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.
to and from mainland Europe, the UK proposes to
continue to operate the Common Transit Convention Initial consideration of the House of Lords amendments
and furthermore states that both the UK and the EU for the Withdrawal Bill took place in the House of
should “apply a waiver from safety and security entry and Commons on 12 and 13 June. The Commons rejected
exit declarations on UK-EU trade.” all Lords amendments, and the Bill returned to the House
of Lords on 18 June, where the amendment drafted by
Response from Brussels and Dublin Mr Grieve was backed by a vote of 354 to 235. A major
dispute had arisen about what had been promised by the
In a statement on Friday, 8 June, Mr Barnier made the Prime Minister. The Grieve group claimed that they had
Commission’s position quite clear: The EU backstop been promised that MPs would have powers to direct the
solution of keeping Northern Ireland within the Customs Government on the next steps if a final Brexit deal was
Union could not, in his view, be extended to the entirety voted down, leading to the prospect of a ‘no-deal’ exit
of the UK: “On customs, Northern Ireland would form from the EU.
part of our customs territory. What is feasible with a
territory the size of Northern Ireland is not necessarily
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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Mr Grieve then claimed that he was misled by the Prime Chequers to agree the text of the paper. It is expected
Minister, when Ministers tabled a motion which provided that a 150-page document will be produced which the
for a vote only on a neutral motion, giving MPs no control Brexit Secretary, David Davis, said would be “the most
over a no-deal Brexit. significant publication on the EU since the referendum.”
The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, reacted by saying that the
Former Conservative Cabinet Minister, Viscount delay was “disappointing but not entirely surprising.”
Hailsham, Douglas Hogg tabled a last minute amendment
dubbed ‘Grieve 2’which would give Parliament a vote even Section Two: The Evolving Debate
in the event of a no deal. The new amendment required
Irish Developments
parliament to be updated by January 2019, should there
be no prospect of a deal, and gives negotiating Ministers
two weeks to return to the House of Commons with a Speaking to the European Movement, the Taoiseach
statement on the government’s plans. MPs would then argued that the Irish side wants to ensure that the future
vote on whether to approve the proposed action. relationship between the EU and the UK is as close,
comprehensive and ambitious as possible, but the first
A last minute compromise saw Mr Grieve vote against
his own amendment when it came before the House of step was the agreement of the withdrawal deal:
Commons on 20 June and David Davis table a statement
recognising the authority of MPs to hold government to However, we need to agree the Withdrawal
account and confirming that it would be for the Speaker Agreement first. We need significant and
to decide whether any government motion could be substantial progress to be made on the backstop
amended. solution for the border if we are to agree the entire
text by October. Nothing is agreed until everything
The House of Lords passed the Brexit bill on the evening is agreed. Negotiations will only progress when all
of 20 June and it will pass into law without further the commitments undertaken are respected in full.
amendment. Mrs May hasn’t seen off the Tory rebels The unity of the EU, throughout this time, has been
however, some of whom expect to see new compromises truly impressive. Our shared experiences and our
on the customs and trade bills. In particular, there is a common values mean that we speak with one voice.
significant cross-party amendment to the proposed trade And that voice will be heard in these negotiations.
bill, which would mandate the government to: “take
The negotiations have reached a point at which the
all necessary steps to implement an international trade
agreement which enables the UK to participate after exit Financial Times columnist, Martin Wolf, writes of ‘playing
day in a customs union with the EU in the same terms as chicken over the post-Brexit Irish border’ and RTE’s Tony
existed before exit day”. Connelly comments that ‘a week in politics has made a
backstop deal more remote.’ In the Irish Times, Pat Leahy
Timetable for Brexit legislation and UK Government
White Paper concludes that ‘the sum total of progress since December’s
initial backstop pledge is as follows: the EU has put
The Prime Minister has confirmed that the Government forward a plan for the backstop that is unacceptable to the
hopes to complete its main Brexit legislation before
UK, and the UK has put forward a plan for the backstop
the summer parliamentary break. Two planned bills
– on customs and trade – will be tabled in the House that is unacceptable to the EU.’
of Commons. “Before we break for the summer in the
Commons we will be taking the two bills that need to be As the June European Council approaches, the lack of
addressed which are relevant to this issue. There will be a progress puts the Irish Government under considerable
lot happening in the next few weeks.”
pressure over what leverage Ireland has to force Britain
The Prime Minister indicated that the planned White into line. RTE sources see the UK using the degree
Paper on the future UK-EU relationship will not be of domestic turmoil as cover for a tactic of delay and
published until after the European Council meeting on prevarication on the backstop issue until the last minute
June 28-29. The Cabinet will meet for an ‘away day’ at
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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in October, hoping that Ireland will come under pressure where the border could quite simply disappear from
from other Member States. There is evidence of British view. This was of course also supported by the long
officials in EU capitals briefing against Ireland.
standing Common Travel Area between Ireland
and the UK which allowed for free movement of
people.
A senior EU official, quoted by RTE following a Brussels
briefing, says that “We need the UK to accept the Rees-Mogg, Johnson and Barnier
consequences of its decisions. I have the impression that
for the UK, everything has to change on the EU side, so The Tory backbencher, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the
that everything stays the same for the UK.” He went on European Research Group of pro-Brexit Tory MPs, and
to say, in reference to the backstop issue, that “there is the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, have commented
a big risk that this will spoil everything at the end. We on the Irish border question in critical terms. Mr Rees-
must not underestimate that. The Brits are now so dug Mogg argued that the Prime Minister should ‘call Ireland’s
in on the fact that they cannot do anything specifically bluff ‘on the border: “I think we should simply make it
for Northern Ireland. Something will surely have to give. clear that we will not put up a border […] and what
To me, there will have to be a crisis in the UK, or a crisis would the Irish do if the EU insisted? I think we should
between the UK and the EU.” A colleague added: “The call that particular bluff.” Boris Johnson described the
essential question is, will Ireland be thrown under the border issue “pure millennium bug stuff” and said that
bus? I don’t believe so.” “we’re allowing the whole of our agenda to be dictated by
this folly.”
The Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee,
spoke at a Financial Times event –the Brexit and Beyond In his press statement on the on-going negotiations,
Summit – in London on 12 June 2018, of the social and Michel Barnier, made comments of relevance to these
practical significance of the “invisible border” in which remarks, suggesting that UK leaders who insist they
membership of the Single Market and Customs Union of should access the benefits of the EU without membership
both the UK and Ireland played a substantial role: are playing a “blame game” in which he does not intend
to engage:
I think it is very important to recall why the Irish
Government and the EU has been so insistent on the In all the UK papers that we have been receiving
need to avoid a hard border. But the importance of until now – which I read carefully with my team –
the border is not just about trade. It is about much there has been a request to maintain the status quo,
more. a form of continuity, which is paradoxical seeing
as the country decided itself to leave the European
The absence of a border is, perhaps the most
Union. The United Kingdom seems to want to
immediately visible – or should I say invisible
maintain the benefits of the current relationship,
- outcome of the peace process for the island of
while leaving the EU regulatory, supervision, and
Ireland. It has allowed relationships to be rebuilt,
application framework.
communities to develop, services to be shared and
the natural flow of daily life to evolve. For many, When we respond to UK leaders saying that these
the border is not only invisible but is “irrelevant”. benefits are not accessible outside the EU system –
because of their decision – some people in the UK
The achievement of making this border invisible
try to blame us for the consequences of this. I simply
cannot be underestimated. And it was here that
want to say that we will not be swayed, I will
the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union had
not be swayed, by this blame game. The United
a critical role to play. The removal of customs posts
Kingdom decided to leave the Union. We respect this
followed in turn by the removal of hard security
democratic decision and we will implement it. The
installations and checkpoints - led to a situation
United Kingdom must assume the consequences. If
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
BRIEF BREXIT BRIEF 043 | JUNE 2018
we want to construct a new relationship, we need staff from London to new EU hubs to ensure continuity
a basis of trust. We also need more realism about with customers when Britain leaves the EU in March.
what is and is not possible.
Enda Kenny on UK Politics
In the Irish Times, Cliff Taylor writes of the Rees-Mogg
argument: “It is a ludicrous argument. You might as well Accepting the European of the Year 2017 from European
say England should turn up at the World Cup suggesting Movement Ireland the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
it be played with an oval ball, or croquet mallets. You counselled the current Taoiseach to maintain a strong
have to have a border between two different trading blocs team with clear objectives moving forward, and described
because that is what world trade rules demand.” a lack of unity among British politicians and negotiators,
UK Business and Brexit which he cautioned was seriously undermining their
credibility:
UK media headlines suggest that business leaders are
I am appalled by what is happening in politics
losing trust in the Conservative Party on Brexit, reporting in Britain. The government is driven by internal
stories such as: ‘Bankers to ask May why they should stay dissent, lacks credibility and clarity on its most
in London after Brexit’ – ‘Tangled in Brexit, the Tories serious challenge in decades. 6 months on from an
are failing their business supporters’- ‘The Tories’ chaotic agreement reached in Dec 2017 very little progress
has been made. The EU continue to negotiate
Brexit has lost the trust of business –and jobs will go.’ from a unified position. British business is afraid
to speak out because of the spectre of a Labour
The CBI president, Paul Drechsler, was quoted as saying government. But if this matter is not dealt with,
“We’re playing economics; the government are playing and if negotiations have not been concluded and
politics. In the world of business, we’re frustrated. We’re signed off before the EU Council in October then
the worst outcome would obtain.
angry.” The Freight Transport Association, a long-time
supporter of the Tory party, attacked the Government for The EU Council in October is not a negotiating
Council and Britain is not represented on a Brexit
“playing chicken with crucial parts pf the British economy
issue at the Council so nothing can be decided in
and the livelihood of 7 million Britons.” And, a senior that event. President Tusk should consider a special
business representative made the admission that “Over EU Council, earlier in October to sign off on the
the past two years, most company bosses would never risk Brexit issues and to consider that matter only. My
advice to the Taoiseach on this issue is to keep your
saying openly that Brexit is turning out to be a disaster,
senior team very active, to track every issue, to
in case it scared off their best staff.” move forward as a strong team keeping very clear
objectives in mind. That way we send out a message
RTE reported on 14 June that “the bosses of some of not just about who we are but also about who we
Europe’s biggest banks will ask Britain’s Prime Minister are not.
Theresa May [….] to give them a reason to stay in the Enda Kenny’s remarks were picked up in The Guardian
city of London after Brexit now that hopes are fading for whose Brexit correspondent, Lisa O’Carroll, wrote that
a generous EU trade deal.” Brexit is seen as posing the “His words will come as a sharp rebuke to Brexiters
biggest challenge to the City of London’s finance industry including members of the DUP who have said that
since the 2007-2009 financial crisis as it could mean if Kenny were still in power there would not be the
banks and insurers will lose access to the EU.” problems with the Irish border. In March, Jacob Rees-
Mogg said “mature” and “responsible” Kenny’s “common
Against this backdrop there are increasing reports of banks
sense approach” had been replaced by an “irresponsible
and other financial organisations moving activities and
vote-catching” Varadkar.
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
BRIEF BREXIT BRIEF 043 | JUNE 2018
Section Three: Background Material and Further Minster Helen McEntee Address to Financial
Reading Times ‘Brexit & Beyond’ Summit, London 12 June
Background Material 2018. (www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/speeches/speeches-
archive/2018/june/minister-mcentee-brexit-beyond-
Enda Kenny TD Speech at European Movement
summit)
Ireland, 11 June 2018. (www.europeanmovement.ie/
wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Taoiseach-Leo-Varadkar- Financial Times Playing chicken over the post-
speech-European-of-the-Year.pdf) Brexit Irish border. FT, 14 June 2018. (www.ft.com/
content/0336f7ac-6f23-11e8-852d-d8b934ff5ffa)
Irish Times Enda Kenny says UK government ‘lacks
credibility’ on Brexit. IT, 12 June 2018. (www.irishtimes. Tony Connelly Brexit: How a week in politics has
com/news/ireland/irish-news/enda-kenny-says-uk- made a backstop deal more remote. RTE, 16 June
government-lacks-credibility-on-brexit-1.3527095) 2018. (www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2018/0615/970823-
tony-connelly-brexit)
The Guardian Former Irish prime minister ‘appalled’
at state of British politics. Guardian, 12 June 2018. Pat Leahy Ireland forced to play both sides in messy
(www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/12/former- Brexit divorce. IT, 16 June 2018. (www.irishtimes.com/
irish-prime-minister-appalled-at-state-of-british-politics) news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-forced-to-play-both-
sides-in-messy-brexit-divorce-1.3532209)
HM Government Technical Note: Temporary Customs
Arrangement, 7 June 2018. (www.gov.uk/government/ Irish Times Brexit: ‘call Ireland’s bluff’ on Border,
publications/technical-note-on-temporary-customs- Rees-Mogg tells May. IT, 15 June 2018. (www.
arrangement) irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/brexit-call-ireland-s-bluff-
on-border-rees-mogg-tells-may-1.3530989)
Tanaiste Simon Coveney Statement on Publication
of UK Proposals, 7 June 2018. (www.dfa.ie/news-and- Cliff Taylor Calling Jacob Rees-Mogg’s double-bluff
media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2018/june/ on Border. IT, 16 June 2018. (www.irishtimes.com/
tanaiste-statement-uk-proposals) opinion/cliff-taylor-calling-jacob-rees-mogg-s-double-
bluff-on-border-1.3532095)
Michel Barnier Press Statement following this week’s
round of negotiations. Brussels, 8 June 2018. (www. Irish Times EU commissioner says ‘tide is running
europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-4105_ out’ on Brexit hardliners. IT, 12 June 2018. (www.
en.htm) irishtimes.com/news/politics/eu-commissioner-says-tide-
is-going-out-on-brexit-hardliners-1.3527112)
RTE ‘Disappointing’ that UK white paper not
published before summit. RTE, 10 June 2018. (https:// The Irish Times The Irish Times view on Brexit:
www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2018/0609/969322-brexit- London edges closer to reality. IT, 11 June 2018. (www.
theresa-may/) irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-
on-brexit-london-edges-closer-to-realitty-1.3525715)
Irish Times Varadkar says position on Brexit talks
has not softened. IT, 12 June 2018. (www.irishtimes. RTE Q&A: What is the Brexit ‘backstop’?
com/news/ireland/irish-news/varadkar-says-position-on- RTE, 7 June 2018. (www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-
brexit-talks-has-not-softened-1.3527148) comment/2018/0607/968951-brexit-backstop-q-and-a)
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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BBC Brexit: May and Davis ‘agree custom backstop The Guardian May wins ‘meaningful vote’ victory
wording’ BBC, 7 June 2018. (www.bbc.com/news/uk- after lead rebel Grieve accepts compromise. Guardian,
politics-44391539) 20 June 2018. (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/
live/2018/jun/20/brexit-theresa-may-faces-meaningful-
Keir Starmer It’s Brexit crunch time. Theresa May’s no- vote-crunch-day-politics-live)
deal disaster is not an option. The Guardian, 11 June
2018. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/ The Telegraph Theresa May accused of ‘sneaky’
jun/11/brexit-theresa-may-no-deal-amendments-eu- betrayal over Brexit vote as deal with Tory rebels
withdrawal-bill) collapses. Telegraph, 14 June 2018. (www.telegraph.
co.uk/politics/2018/06/14/theresa-may-accused-sneaky-
Financial Times Theresa May’s retreat closes door betrayal-brexit-vote-deal-tory-rebels)
on a no deal Brexit. FT, 13 June 2018. (www.ft.com/
content/00c5a1f0-6e2c-11e8-92d3-6c13e5c92914) The Guardian No 10 insists PM will stick to
late change to Brexit promise. Guardian, 15 June
The Guardian The Tories’ chaotic Brexit has lost the 2018. (www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/15/
trust of business- and jobs will go. Guardian, 14 June conservative-rebel-theresa-may-forced-backtrack-brexit-
2018. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/ pledge-meaningful0vote)
jun/14/tories-brexit-business-jobs-theresa-may)
The Telegraph Theresa May sets 2021 end date for
The Guardian Editorial. The Guardian view on the customs backstop after David Davis threatens to
Brexit bill debates: crash bang wallop. Guardian, 11 quit. Telegraph, 7 June 2018. (www.telegraph.co.uk/
June 2018. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/ politics/2018/06/07/theresa-mays-backstop-customs-
jun/11/the-guardian-view-on-the-brexit-bill-debates- plan-would-result-hotel-california)
crash-bang-wallop)
Open DemocracyUK Brexit, Parliament and the
The Guardian New Lords defeat for government on British Constitution: why a People’s Vote is the only
Brexit ‘meaningful vote’ amendment. Guardian, 18 legitimate constitutional means of resolving Brexit.
June 2018. (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/ OpenDemocracy, 9 June 2018. (www.opendemocracy.
jun/18/new-lords-defeat-for-government-on-brexit- net/uk/danny-rye/brexit-parliament-and-british-
meaningful-vote-amendment) constitution-why-people-s-vote-is-only-legitimate-
cnstitutional-means-0of-resolving-brexit)
The Economist Theresa May heads off a rebellion.
Economist, 21 June 2018. (https://www.economist.com/ The Observer The Observer view on why MPs must
britain/2018/06/23/theresa-may-heads-off-a-rebellion) vote in our best interests in the Brexit moment of
truth. Observer, 10 June 2018. (www.theguardian,com/
The Guardian Brexit ‘meaningful vote’: May wins commentisfree/2018/jun/10/the-observer-view-on-mps-
after rebels accept compromise. Guardian, 20 June
having-chance-to-vote-in-interests-of-people-on-brexit)
2018. (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/
jun/20/lead-tory-rebel-dominic-grieve-accepts-brexit- Daniel Hannan Britain is dangerously close to a
meaningful-vote-compromise) Brexit deal that is worse than staying or leaving the
EU. The Telegraph, 9 June 2018. (www.telegraph.
The Guardian May has won a key Brexit vote but what co.uk/politics/2018/06/09/britain-dangerously-close-
happens next? Guardian, 20 June 2018. (https://www. brexit-deal-worse-staying-leaving)
theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/20/may-has-won-
the-key-brexit-vote-but-what-happens-next)
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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The Telegraph Back Theresa May or pave the way The Guardian The Guardian view on a no-deal Brexit:
for a government led by Jeremy Corbyn, Tory rebels a fatal delusion. Guardian, 15 June 2018. (https://
told. Telegraph, 9 June 2018. (www.telegraph.co.uk/ www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/15/the-
politics/2018/06/09/back-theresa-may-pave-way-jeremy- guardian-view-on-a-no-deal-brexit-a-fatal-delusion)
corbyn-become-prime-minister)
The Guardian Leaked comments by Boris Johnson
Andrew Rawnsley Europe is fast losing interest in the expose cabinet divisions. Guardian, 8 June 2018.
Brexit soap –it has bigger worries. Guardian, 17 June (www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/07/pm-
2018. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/ confident-david-davis-will-stay-in-job-no-10-says)
jun/17/europe-losing-interest-brexit-soap-it-has-bigger-
worries) RTE Irish border concerns ‘pure millennium bug
stuff’ – Johnson. RTE, 8 June 2018. (www.rte.ie/news/
Financial Times Theresa May seeks to finalise main brexit/2018/0608/969041-johnson-brexit-warning)
Brexit bills by summer. FT, 8 June 2018. (www.ft.com/
content/ec1d05bc-6aa3-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec) The Guardian Brexit: Labour too divided to back
Norway-style deal, says Starmer. Guardian, 6 June
Financial Times Theresa May’s soft approach to facing 2018. (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/
down a hard Brexit. FT, 9 June 2018. (www.ft.com/ jun/06/brexit-keir-starmer-says-labour-divided-norway-
content/de01bd7c-6b04-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec) style-deal-amendment)
Financial Times May’s control of EU withdrawal rests Kathy Sheridan Brexit debate a stupid mongrel
on knife-edge vote. FT, 17 June 2018. (www.ft.com/ feverishly eating its own tail. IT, 6 June 2018.
content/18b77a50-70a1-11e8-852d-d8b934ff5ffa) (www.irishtimes.com/opinion/kathy-sheridan-brexit-
debate-a-stupid-mongrel-feverishly-eating-its-own-
Denis Staunton Britain says Brexit backstop tail-1.3520335)
arrangement to end by 2021. IT, 7 June 2018. (www.
irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/britain-says-brexit- RTE Bankers to ask May why they should stay in
backstop-arrangement-to-end-by-2021-1.3522637) London after Brexit. RTE, 14 June 2018. (www.rte.ie/
news/buiness/2018/0614/970411-banks-and-brexit)
Stephen Collins Maybe Theresa May has a cunning
Brexit plan. IT, 7 June 2018. (www.irishtimes.com/ Financial Times May delays blueprint for future EU
opinion/stephen-collins-maybe-theresa-may-has-a- ties until after June summit. FT, 5 June 2018. (www.
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