Reform UK MP Declares Irish Border Will Be Central to EU 'Reset' if Party Gains Power
Reform UK MP Danny Kruger has asserted that the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will become a pivotal element in resetting relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom should his party secure government. Mr Kruger delivered these remarks during an address at the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party conference held in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
Commitment to Completing Brexit and Sustaining the Union
In his speech, Mr Kruger emphasised that Reform UK is dedicated to "completing the unfinished business of Brexit". This statement follows a recent visit to Belfast by his colleague Robert Jenrick, who met with Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson. The East Wiltshire MP clarified that his party does not intend to take sides in Northern Irish politics but instead "supports the commitment of every unionist to sustain the union".
Mr Kruger, who served as political secretary to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019 before defecting from the Conservatives to Reform UK in September last year, outlined his party's vision for a renewed relationship with the EU.
Immigration Concerns and the 'Open Back Door'
When questioned about the implications of Reform UK's pledge to reduce immigration for the open border on the island of Ireland, Mr Kruger acknowledged a significant problem. He told the Press Association: "We clearly have a problem. Our primary mission is to stop the small boats, stop the influx of illegal immigrants coming across the English Channel, but we're very aware that when we do that the smugglers and the gangs will start looking for other avenues."
He further elaborated: "There clearly is an open border, an open back door to the United Kingdom, that is the north-south border in Ireland. So yes, this is something we have to take very seriously. It's going to be part of the reset that we need to have with the EU and with the Republic if we win, and it's absolutely unacceptable that illegal immigrants are allowed to come over the Irish border."
Core Principles and Criticisms of Past Agreements
Mr Kruger stated that at the heart of Reform UK's "project of restoration is the re-establishment of the union as a single, indivisible state, whole and entirely one sovereign border". He reflected on the recent political turmoil in Northern Ireland, where power-sharing institutions were non-operational for approximately two years due to a DUP boycott protesting post-Brexit trading arrangements, initially known as the Northern Ireland Protocol and later revised as the Windsor Framework.
The MP revealed that he voted for the original protocol under the belief it would be swiftly resolved, but he opposed the Windsor Framework, accusing former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of "breaking faith with Northern Ireland and with the whole of the UK" through that arrangement. Mr Kruger contended that "the principle of cross-community consent has been junked", describing it as "the final and the greatest betrayal of Brexit" concerning the Belfast Agreement and historical rights dating back to 1922.
Vision for a New Deal with the EU
Looking ahead, Mr Kruger expressed a desire to collaborate with unionist allies to ensure that, if a Reform government is formed, it can finalise Brexit's unresolved matters. He stressed: "We want to work with you and your allies to ensure that if, as I fervently hope, we have a Reform government, we are able to complete the unfinished business of Brexit. Not to reopen all those wounds from five years ago or so, but simply and courteously to agree a new deal with the EU that respects our sovereignty, the sovereignty of the whole of the UK."
Endorsement from TUV Leadership
TUV leader Jim Allister praised Mr Kruger during the conference, suggesting he would "be a far better occupant of Hillsborough Castle than the one we have at the moment" and describing him as "a man whose ear it's well worth bending". This endorsement highlights the potential alignment between Reform UK and unionist interests in Northern Ireland as political dynamics continue to evolve.
