The Northern Ireland political ally of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government says it cannot support Brexit proposals that are now on the table. The unionist DUP party wrote in a statement that it cannot agree with what is proposed with regard to customs procedures and public participation. There would also be “insufficient clarity about sales tax”.

The status of Northern Ireland after the Brexit is considered to be the major stumbling block in the negotiation of a Brexit deal. After the Brexit, the only land border between the EU and the United Kingdom lies between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Both parties would like to keep it open without border controls, but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also wants to leave the customs union with the EU. These two wishes are at odds with each other.

The DUP says in the statement that the party continues to work with the British government to try to achieve a “sensible deal”. The party states that it wants an agreement that “protects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom”.