Opinion

Brian Feeney: Arlene Foster's nonsensical stance on a Brexit extension needs to be challenged

Brian Feeney

Brian Feeney

Historian and political commentator Brian Feeney has been a columnist with The Irish News for three decades. He is a former SDLP councillor in Belfast and co-author of the award-winning book Lost Lives

Arlene Foster was the only first minister in a devolved administration in the UK not to ask for an extension 
Arlene Foster was the only first minister in a devolved administration in the UK not to ask for an extension  Arlene Foster was the only first minister in a devolved administration in the UK not to ask for an extension 

The UK, but particularly the north, faces a huge social and economic crisis next year and not only because of the impact of Covid-19.

It’s evident from the stalled negotiations between Michel Barnier’s team and the British team led by David Frost that in January 2021 Johnson’s government is intent on plunging into unknown economic arrangements with its closest neighbours and the rest of the world.

Johnson’s gang have no plan, no strategy. What passes for policy is hastily made up on the hoof. Nothing concrete emerged from Johnson’s video meeting on Monday with the presidents of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament; only an agreement – yet again – to “intensify” talks. Last Friday was the latest example of the government living hand to mouth. Michael Gove formally announced there would be no extension to the transition period. He then announced with a straight face and his usual satirical approach to sincerity, that, “to give business certainty” the UK would not be introducing import tariffs across the board on January 1 as previously threatened. Instead, they would be phased in over three stages.

In fact this U-turn has nothing to do with ‘business certainty’, quite the opposite in fact because, as the CBI warned, business still has no idea what’s going to happen in January because the British government has no idea. The real reason Gove turned turtle is that the UK has done nothing to prepare for imposing tariffs in January. They need holding areas for the tens of thousands of lorries entering Britain every week. That requires huge customs and inspection infrastructure at all ports, not just Dover. They also need to hire tens of thousands of customs officers, a minimum of 50,000. None of that has begun.

However, it’s worth looking at what the ‘no deal’ they’re heading for will look like because, although the British say they’re phasing in duties and tariffs, the EU say they’re ready to implement them on Day 1. Without a deal the north’s agriculture industry will be destroyed. The EU (and that means the south remember) imposes tariffs in excess of 40 per cent on beef and lamb, 15 per cent on pork. Those are just a couple of examples. There will have to be export health certificates for all animal products. Manufacturing, or what will be left of it here, will face expensive product standard regulation and perhaps two different standards for UK sales and EU sales.

All of this is well known. The hauliers, the Retail Consortium and CBI have all been telling the Stormont executive the costs for ages now. All business here opposes Brexit. Over 80 per cent of farm income here comes in direct subsidies from the EU. It’s not only beef, pork and lamb which will be knocked for six. The dairy industry will be flattened. Yet, incredibly Arlene Foster was the only first minister in a devolved administration in the UK not to ask for an extension – essentially a change of policy to save local industry. She provided no justification for her nonsensical stance. She said it was better to get it done. Wrong. Her minister of agriculture blethers about “the best of both worlds”, but has offered no detail about how to mitigate the consequences of no deal, nor even given an indication that he understands what they are. Instead, since 2016 he has answered questions with a silly grin.

Now that the British economy is emerging from lockdown after taking its biggest hit in history it’s time to start asking the DUP for answers to specifics, even as simple as why they’re not pressing the British government to explain what’s going to happen at ports and airports here. For example, are they going to make a deal with the EU, as Barnier offered, to let through container lorries with goods destined for supermarkets here without holdups? Those lorries are carrying food products, 80 per cent of which come from the EU. Business needs certainty.