The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is not adopting a softer stance on Brexit to allow trade to continue both across the Irish border and the Irish Sea, its party leader Arlene Foster said at the RUAS Winter Fair near Lisburn on Thursday.

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Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Foster said most people agreed with the DUP’s decision not to support the original settlement between the UK and EU relating to the Irish border last week. The party had concerns with potential issues it could have with trade between NI and Britain.

“For a lot of agri food people that [trade between NI and Britain] is critical. There has been some commentary around it that we want a hard border. That’s the last thing we want to see. We want a frictionless border,” Foster said.

She said it was not about UK alignment of customs arrangements or regulations with the EU. “That is a term that people get very hung up on. It is about looking at all the different sectors and making sure we represent all of those interests in an effective way,” she added.

Foster said the DUP would be a voice for NI farmers in Westminster, given that the party’s 10 MPs are propping up the Conservative government.

“We want to have a sensible Brexit. A Brexit that works for everyone in Northern Ireland. We recognise that there are a number of people in Northern Ireland who didn’t vote for Brexit,” she said.

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