Four Parties Issue Joint Statement On EU

Northern Ireland should remain in the single market and customs union after Brexit, four political parties have said.

Sinn Féin, the Green Party, Alliance and the SDLP have issued a joint statement.

They said there should be no hard border on the island of Ireland or between Ireland and the UK.

"This is critical to protecting investment, jobs, trade and the hard-won peace," the statement said.

It was signed by the leaders of the four parties: Michelle O'Neill, Steven Agnew, Naomi Long and Colum Eastwood.

Support for staying in the EU increases in the north

A new survey suggests that people in Northern Ireland want to stay within the European Union's single market and customs union. 

Researchers at Queens University Belfast carried out the project.

It provides in-depth analysis into public attitudes within Northern Ireland towards the UK's exit from the EU.

The project surveyed more than 1,000 people and was funded by 'The UK in a Changing Europe'.

John Garry, a professor at Queens University, said: "We find Catholics and Protestants most prefer the option that would avoid the need for any new barriers on borders. 

"Either in the Irish Sea or across Ireland."

Further information showed that if a "hard exit" was to occur, where the UK would leave the customs union and the single market, Catholics would be far more likely to support the idea of a united Ireland. 

More than 50% of Catholics surveyed said they would vote for a united Ireland in the case of a "hard" Brexit and 28% of Catholics surveyed said they would vote for a united Ireland if the UK reversed its decision and remained part of the EU. 

Brendan O'Leary, a visiting professor at Queens University and a key researcher for the survey, highlighted the change in attitudes within Northern Ireland towards Brexit since the 2016 referendum. 

He said: "Our results show that if there was another referendum, people in Northern Ireland would vote more strongly to remain in the EU. 

"The proportion wanting to remain has risen since the 2016 referendum as more people have become aware of the possible costs and inconveniences of leaving the EU, as citizens and as employees or employers."

The survey suggests that 69% of people in Northern Ireland would now vote to remain in the EU, a 13% increase on the 56% who voted to remain in 2016.