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Martin McGuinness challenges Theresa May over Brexit summit no-show

(left to right) Taoiseach Enda Kenny, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Picture by Ben Birchall, Press Association
(left to right) Taoiseach Enda Kenny, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Picture by Ben Birchall, Press Association (left to right) Taoiseach Enda Kenny, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Picture by Ben Birchall, Press Association

MARTIN McGuinness and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have challenged Prime Minister Theresa May on why she stayed away from a Brexit-themed summit that focused on concerns around free trade.

The deputy First Minister and Ms Sturgeon said Mrs May should have attended the British Irish Council (BIC) meeting in Wales.

The event, near Cardiff, brought together leaders including those of the UK's three devolved administrations, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and several British Government ministers.

Top of the agenda was how the UK could maintain access to the European Single Market post-Brexit if it denied freedom of movement to EU citizens.

BIC summits are held twice a year. UK prime ministers have attended in the past, but not on a regular basis.

Sinn Féin MLA Mr McGuinness said the context of yesterday's event should have prompted Mrs May to take part.

"She is a new British Prime Minister, this was her first opportunity to attend the meeting of the British Irish Council and to meet with the devolved institutions and the Crown dependencies and I think it was a missed opportunity on her behalf," he said.

During the post-summit press conference, Mrs Sturgeon said she agreed "strongly" with Mr McGuinness's remarks.

Four UK Government ministers did attend the discussions at the Vale Resort: Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns; Secretary of State James Brokenshire; Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union Robin Walker; and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years Caroline Dinenage.

The summit took place in the wake of comments by Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat that unfettered single market access could not be offered if it was not accompanied by free movement. Malta will assume the rolling presidency of the EU in January.

Stormont's First Minister Arlene Foster, who campaigned for Brexit, said the single market versus ending free movement could not be a binary one or the other.

"Do I think it's binary - no I don't think it's binary, because negotiations are about coming to accommodations," she said.

"What we need to see is an openness and a willingness to do what is right for each of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom."

Mr Kenny raised concerns about the potential of border checks and trade tariffs.

"The best outcome would be something as close to what we have at the moment. I think everybody will agree that the importance of the single market is critical for everybody," he said.

Mr Brokenshire said the Government was analysing different options to balance the need for fluid trade and reflect the electorate's desire for limits on immigration.

"We are considering those options carefully as we look to the triggering of Article 50 and establishing that UK-wide stance, so we do get the best possible arrangement for all parts of the United Kingdom," he said.