Boris Burrow: Underwater tunnel connecting UK and Northern Ireland greenlighted
Brexit: George Galloway tells EU to 'mind their own business'
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Dubbed ‘Boris Burrow’, the tunnel would run from Stranraer, Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland, according to the Daily Telegraph. It would be roughly 25 miles, which is about the same length as the Channel tunnel. The chairman of Network Rail, Peter Wendy, has been tasked with conducting feasibility studies.
It is hoped the tunnel might help ease post-Brexit tensions caused by the Northern Ireland protocol.
The protocol was designed to prevent a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
It has led to checks on goods entering the province from the UK and has led to some food shortages in supermarkets.
The protocol has provoked fierce criticism from Unionist politicians, who have called on the Prime Minister to scrap the agreement.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, said on Friday that people needed to “take heed” of what was being said by the unionist community.
“There has to be recognition in London, Dublin and Brussels that damage has been done by this protocol and therefore we have to deal with it.”
Fears are growing that the protocol is inflaming sectarian tensions in the province.
In recent weeks, graffiti opposing the protocol has started to appear in loyalist areas.
Staff carrying out physical checks on goods at Larne and Belfast ports were withdrawn from work for a time over concerns for their safety.
Last week, the DUP launched an online petition calling for the triggering of Article 16 in order to secure “unfettered” trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.
The petition reached the required 100,000 signatures within 24 hours.
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A parliamentary debate will now be held later this month to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove is believed to be proposing a “mutual enforcement” plan.
This would see the Northern Irish border restored and the same checks applied to both UK and EU trade.
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