Northern Ireland

DUP coy on backing Boris Johnson's deal with the EU

The SDLP's Claire Hanna Colum Easwood are expected to vote against the EU-UK trade deal. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
The SDLP's Claire Hanna Colum Easwood are expected to vote against the EU-UK trade deal. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire The SDLP's Claire Hanna Colum Easwood are expected to vote against the EU-UK trade deal. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire

THE DUP has yet to indicate how its MPs will vote when Westminster meets on Wednesday to ratify the EU-UK trade deal.

While DUP leader Arlene Foster has said a "sensible trade deal" was the "most favourable outcome" for the north, the party's eight MPs have so far not committed themselves to supporting Boris Johnson's government.

Opposition leader Sir Kier Starmer has said Labour will reluctantly back the agreement that allows Britain tariff-free access to the European single market.

The SNP look likely to vote against the deal, which with Labour backing will gain majority support among MPs.

A DUP spokesman said the party's MPs had yet to make their minds up.

"Our Westminster team will meet on Tuesday," he said.

"Until then we will continue to study the detail of the agreement."

The SDLP's two MPs – leader Colum Eastwood and Claire Hanna – are expected to vote against the deal.

An SDLP spokesman said the party's parliamentary group was scheduled to meet to discuss the trade deal and its impact on the north.

"The party has been clear that Brexit in any form is a bad deal for people, businesses and communities here," he said.

Sole Alliance MP Stephen Farry also looks likely to vote against the deal.

"While the UK badly needs to avoid a no deal situation with the EU, this is a very weak future relationship with many benefits and opportunities lost," the North Down MP said.

"This is a Tory deal and I am not going to give legitimacy to their delusions when this is an act of self harm."

He said he planned to talk to other parties ahead of the vote to "see how best we can signal and register objections to this".

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds yesterday urged her Labour colleagues not to defy the party's leadership's orders by opposing the Brexit trade deal, despite grave concerns over the treaty.

Sir Keir has ordered his MPs to back the agreement, arguing that despite its problems it is far better than the alternative outcome of a chaotic no-deal.

But there have been suggestions that shadow ministers are poised to resign in order to defy a three-line whip when the House of Commons votes on the pact.

Ms Dodds said MPs must support the deal in order to give certainty to businesses ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period on Thursday.

Asked about a possible Labour rebellion, she told BBC Breakfast: "I obviously don't want to see that, I want to see a situation where we have as much certainty for businesses as possible."

Some Labour MPs have lobbied for the party to instead abstain on the vote so it can effectively hold the Conservatives to account for any financial harm caused by Brexit.

But Sir Keir, who campaigned to remain within the EU, argued "it is not credible for Labour to be on the sidelines".