FORMER presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, has highlighted the benefits of Northern Ireland’s access to both EU and UK markets.
Appearing on Sky News, Clinton said that Northern Ireland’s unique situation is “The most amazing opportunity that I could imagine to become a magnet for business and investment.”
Hilary Clinton, "If you look at the privileged access NI will now have, the UK and the EU markets, that is almost the most amazing opportunity that I could imagine, to become a magnet for business and investment." All of the UK had this before Brexit. pic.twitter.com/hxofCygsWr
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) April 23, 2023
Northern Ireland is still subject to EU rules for goods – despite the UK leaving the European Union – which protects cross-border trade with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.
There were concerns that a hard border between the North and the South would break the Good Friday Agreement.
US President, Joe Biden, visited Ireland earlier this month, marking the 25th anniversary of the agreement – which ended the armed conflict between Irish Republicans and Unionists in Northern Ireland.
Like Scotland, Northern Ireland voted to stay in the European Union and was dragged out against its will – this has led many to question why Scotland could not have also kept its access to the European Single Market.
Northern Ireland’s different membership status has angered unionists, who feel this means the Republic and Northern Ireland will grow closer politically.
The former US Secretary of State said in the interview with Beth Rigby that political leaders should embrace the current deal as it gives Northern Ireland “Privileged access to not just to the UK market but trading partners of the UK and to the EU.”
According to Bloomberg, Brexit is costing the UK economy £100 billion a year in lost output – with many experts also pointing to rising food costs and shortages partly being down to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
Brexit’s negative effects have increased support for leaving the Union in both Scotland and Northern Ireland – with a poll finding a plurality of people in Northern Ireland expect a united Ireland in the next two decades.
The economic impact of Brexit has also increased calls for Scotland to become an independent country and to re-join the EU – With Humza Yousaf calling Scotland a “proud European nation” during the SNP leadership debates.
