DUP’s Foster Calls Irish Backstop Toxic, Supports May Without It – Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – The leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, which supports British Prime Minister Theresa May’s minority government, described the Irish backstop in her Brexit deal as problematic but indicated that she could support the agreement if the backstop were modified.

Arlene Foster, who is scheduled to meet May in Belfast, expressed on BBC radio that the party would continue to oppose the existing backstop. She emphasized that Parliament has endorsed this stance, giving the Prime Minister a clear mandate to return to discussions in Brussels.

“Parliament’s mandate is to replace the backstop. The current arrangement is detrimental to those of us living in Northern Ireland. If the issue of the backstop is resolved in the Withdrawal Agreement, we will support the Prime Minister. I hope to avoid a no-deal scenario,” Foster stated.