Northern Ireland's largest Unionist party was persuaded into the Northern Ireland Executive but som supporters condemn the deal: what does the future hold?
A very fair analysis of the situation. You might have acknowledged that the DUP are, to some extent extent, the authors of their current dilemma. They were cheerleaders for the hardest possible Brexit and Sammy was probably the loudest voice in that respect. The effects on Ireland (North and South) were largely ignored during the Brexit referendum campaign. From the day after the referendum, the Irish Government and the EU made absolutely clear that they would not agree anything which created new trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In that situation, there were only two ways new trade barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland could be avoided (there were already some checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland); (a) abandon Brexit or (b) leave the EU without a deal. When push came to shove, it was clear that there was not a majority in Parliament for the latter option. The DUP foolishly put their trust in Boris Johnson and helped him destroy Theresa May's deal which tried to square the circle. Johnson then double crossed them by agreeing a deal which safeguarded Britain's trading interests at the expense of Northern Ireland. The only way to eliminate these new trade checks is for the UK to choose closer trading alignment with the EU.
A very fair analysis of the situation. You might have acknowledged that the DUP are, to some extent extent, the authors of their current dilemma. They were cheerleaders for the hardest possible Brexit and Sammy was probably the loudest voice in that respect. The effects on Ireland (North and South) were largely ignored during the Brexit referendum campaign. From the day after the referendum, the Irish Government and the EU made absolutely clear that they would not agree anything which created new trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In that situation, there were only two ways new trade barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland could be avoided (there were already some checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland); (a) abandon Brexit or (b) leave the EU without a deal. When push came to shove, it was clear that there was not a majority in Parliament for the latter option. The DUP foolishly put their trust in Boris Johnson and helped him destroy Theresa May's deal which tried to square the circle. Johnson then double crossed them by agreeing a deal which safeguarded Britain's trading interests at the expense of Northern Ireland. The only way to eliminate these new trade checks is for the UK to choose closer trading alignment with the EU.