Theresa May was preparing to warn the EU that she would not sign up to “anything that threatens the constitutional integrity of the UK” as Boris Johnsonwas accused of hinting that a hard border could be reintroduced in Ireland.
A senior government source told of the prime minister’s intentions after reports that a legal document, to be finalised on Tuesday by the European commission, would include a last resort scenario under which Belfast remained aligned with European single market rules.
That suggestion would pile pressure on the relationship between the Conservative government and the DUP – on which it relies for votes in parliament – as it could pave the way for new regulatory barriers between Northern Irelandand the rest of the UK.
“This is a draft negotiating position by the EU and not a final, binding text,” said a senior government source. “We are fully committed to implementing the December agreement, but the EU should be absolutely clear that the prime minister is not going to sign up to anything that threatens the constitutional integrity of the UK or its common market.”
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