“Come clean on Irish border” says Warrington MP

WARRINGTON South MP Faisal Rashid has called for urgent confirmation on whether or not there will be a “hard border” on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
He has called on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to “come clean” on the issue
His call follows comments from the Foreign Secretary in a leaked memo to the Prime Minister in which he said the government’s main challenge was to “stop this border becoming significantly harder.”
He also said in the memo: “Even if a hard border is reintroduced, we would expect to see 95 per cent-plus of goods pass the
border [without]checks.”
Mr Rashid said: “These words were written despite the fact that commitments had previously been made by the government at the end of the last year that there would be no hard border on the island of Ireland.”
This prompted Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry to ask an “urgent question in the House of Commons.
Mr Rashid said: “The government’s divisions and incompetence are putting jobs and the economy at risk. Ministers have not offered any viable way to ensure frictionless trade with Europe, protect our manufacturing industry or prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland.
“Labour’s commitment to a negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union would achieve this.
“The Prime Minister must start to prioritise negotiating a future relationship with the European Union that puts jobs and the economy first. Businesses need certainty and stability from the Government, not
more instability and chaos.
“The Foreign Secretary made it clear at the end of the last year that there would be no hard border on the island of Ireland. It is therefore deeply concerning to now hear his comments in a leaked letter about Northern Ireland, that he appears to be backtracking on this issue. Quite frankly his comments were reckless and completely irresponsible.
“His failure to stay in the House of Commons to answer Emily Thornberry’s question, shows nothing but utter contempt for our Parliament and leaves little doubt that he will continue to run away from his responsibilities.
“The Foreign Secretary appears to be saying one thing in public and another in private.
“So what is the truth? Either there will be a hard border or not. The British public deserve urgent clarification on this issue.”