December 15, 2018
Letters Editor
NEW YORK TIMES
620 8th Ave
New York, New York 10018
Dear Editor:
This is in response to “Three Choices on Brexit, None Good” (12/14). A negotiated deal based on the agreement of the Irish Sea as the customs border for the EU was easily the most logical, practical and efficient option. But Prime Minister May’s political partner, the NI Democratic Unionist party (DUP) led by First Minister Arlene Foster, dismissed that outright claiming that it would threaten the “constitutional integrity” of the United Kingdom. In accepting that DUP veto, Ms. May succumbed to that nostalgia for Empire days and lost sight of the fact that she was trying to perfect a trade and commerce pact; one that helped make Britain the fifth largest economy in the world.
No doubt Ms. Foster feared that if Britain were to recognize the Irish Sea as a customs border, it might be the first step on the slippery slope to a re-united Ireland and affect the $11B bail-out the British taxpayer annually makes to the Northern Ireland economy. It should be noted that 56% of the NI voters wanted to REMAIN in the European Union. Faced with a recent poll supporting Ireland’s re-unification, Ms. Foster asserted: “She would leave Ireland.” Her veto of the Irish Sea customs border may have hastened that day. She should start packing.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Cummings, Secretary
America Brexit Committee
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