Government denies 'provoking’ UK over calls for special status Brexit deal on North

The Government has denied trying to provoke Britain with a special status deal for the North amid accusations the EU is trying to use the border to stop Brexit.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier’s draft withdrawal text for the UK has triggered outrage in the Tory-led government in London and also among unionists in the North. His hardline Brexit stance is that the fallback position after Brexit will keep the North in the EU customs union with its trade rules, unless London comes up with a unique solution.

Brexiteers claim this will erode Britain’s constitutional rights, putting a border down the Irish Sea. But Mr Barnier insisted: “I am not trying to create any shock waves. I want these negotiations to be a success.”