Steve Baker questions influence of 'unelected figures' on party
The DUP is being pressurised by a small number of hardliners to stay out of the Stormont Assembly, Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker said on Tuesday.
But pressed on the continuing DUP Stormont boycott, Mr Baker said: “I think realistically where we are with the DUP is in the final stages of them letting us know what they need.” “The EU is not going to reopen the Windsor Framework, this was the best we could do. I have been honest and open from that from the purist unionist or Eurosceptic point of view, it’s our compromise. But I’ve also been honest and open, we have got investors converging on Northern Ireland in a spirit of good will, wanting to invest. We have talked about how Northern Ireland is going to be in a unique place in all the world to take advantage of it.
He added: “Let’s be absolutely clear here, I’m not coming out here today to try to brief against the DUP. We’ve got an investment summit coming up, and I want to see that be a success. That’s why I’ve been allowed to come out and do media by Number 10. “I’m very fond of Gregory, but they’ve talked about megaphone diplomacy and all the rest of it, I’m answering your questions, I’m happy to answer your questions but it’s in the DUP’s hands if they want Northern Ireland to flourish.
“As I’ve said several times, I recognise that leaving in place just enough EU law to deliver that infrastructure-free border is a hard compromise from a purist Eurosceptic and unionist point of view, including for me, but I’m not going to let that stop me making the most of it for Northern Ireland.
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