Where the UK's Brexit plan (and Customs Bill) leave Northern Ireland

By Katy Hayward, Queen's University Belfast and David Phinnemore, Queen's University Belfast

The status of the Irish border after Brexit is the most complicated and contested part of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The UK government insists the issue can only be addressed in the formulation of a new UK-EU relationship. To this end, its most recent white paper, published on July 12, envisages a future deal in which there are no checks and controls at any UK-EU border.