Business

The DUP's support for Johnson's Brexit proposals has isolated it politically and within wider business and civic society

Boris Johnson MP pictured at the DUP conference with Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds. Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker
Boris Johnson MP pictured at the DUP conference with Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds. Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Boris Johnson MP pictured at the DUP conference with Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds. Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker

I respect our politicians, all of them. Well, almost all of them.

Anyone who has the courage of their convictions to put themselves before the people, set out an agenda and seek support, deserves our respect and deserves to be listened to.

There will always be the exception who abuses the political system for their own end but they are a small minority.

Respect and courtesy is a two way street, especially in serious matters such as those we now face in Northern Ireland and across these islands. There has not been a more grave scenario than that posed by Brexit and the pursuit of the UK Government of the kind of Brexit which will seriously damage our society and our economy for a long time to come.

It is the kind of situation where all wise heads deserve to be listened to. That applies especially to the business community who know more than the politicians do what the impact of any Brexit arrangement will be on their Firm, their workforce, their sales prospects.

Indeed our political leaders, most of whom have been in a political bubble for all of their working lives, should feel an onus to proactively reach out to and seek advice and input from business leaders.

All of this brings us to the Boris Johnson proposals for Brexit. To call it a deal is a misnomer, it has not been agreed with anyone beyond the UK cabinet and certainly not with the EU, and nor will it be.

The DUP has performed a remarkable U-turn on what were previously referred to as ‘blood red lines’ and are now not just accepting but trumpeting as a major success, a regulatory border in the Irish Sea as well as new customs arrangements on the island.

It is of course up to the DUP whether to support the proposals or not and they can be expected to attempt to portray that support in a favourable light.

Maybe they even deserve to be praised for being willing to move back on previously immovable positions but the manner in which the party has done so, does nothing to advance cordial or respectful debate.

We are now coming up to the anniversary of Theresa May’s initial Withdrawal Agreement, published in November 2018.

Remember this actually was an Agreement with the EU 27 but of course it fell foul of the hard core brexiteers including the DUP.

That was the first occasion that the business community in Northern Ireland found its voice and made it heard in support of the May agreement.

Prior to that the business representative bodies had long been at pains to remain neutral when it came to party politics, a delicate topic in Northern Ireland.

Led initially by the Freight Transport Association, Manufacturing NI and the NI Retail Consortium, soon enough every business body was outlining support for the May deal and clear and absolute opposition to the notion of a no deal exit from Europe.

The DUP was stung and Jeffrey Donaldson memorably went on the offensive, even saying the business groups had not read the deal they were supporting.

That schism has re-opened with the arrival of Boris Johnson’s proposals which are anathema to the local business community and indeed to the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland as reflected in the views of their elected representatives.

Every single business and civic representative organisation has rejected the proposals. Even the farmer who appeared in the DUP pro Brexit video admits that with hindsight, he got it wrong and would now vote to Remain if he had the chance.

The one party speaking up in support of the Johnson 'deal' is isolated politically and within wider business and civic society.

That will bruise the DUP, even it is not clear yet whether electoral damage will follow.

But the relationships within Northern Ireland will not be helped by increased criticism of the business organisations. In an interview over the weekend Arlene Foster said she finds the position of the business organisations ‘deeply frustrating’.

In the same article the DUP leader hit out at local media coverage of the proposals. It is the sound of someone who knows they are out of step with popular opinion and is looking for someone to blame.

Surely it would be more productive for Arlene and her colleagues to engage with the business leaders who oppose the proposals? When the business community is so united in the one viewpoint, there just might be some validity in their argument?

Politicians should be respected and listened to, so too should those who build the businesses, attracts investment and employ people.

Perhaps those of us who are anxious about the Johnson proposals can relax a little, after all they are not a serious policy position, and are surely designed to fail.

It is hard to read exactly where Boris Johnson and his advisers think this will end up, but these proposals contain too many pitfalls and frankly bizarre elements to be taken seriously.

If we are approaching the Brexit endgame, let the business community continue to make its voice heard. Loud and clear.