•GFA was not just "agreement between two traditions in NI" but a democratic covenant between two traditions in Ireland, unquestionably endorsed by referendum and directly reflected in the Irish constitution.
•Backstop to uphold its precepts & purposes is not anti-democratic. 1/
The specious line that GFA neither depends on or requires a particular customs or regulatory regime ignores fact that removal of customs border etc not only predated Agreement but ceasefires. Single market & CU prospect was plank in JH's case in Hume-Adams even in '87-8. 2/
EU taken as given in GFA w refs in 3 Strands & joint membership valued in British-Irish Agreement. Hume wanted it more explicit but accepted anti-EU stances of some (Eg SF, DUP, some UUP) might affect referendum case. In later negs on N-S bodies UUP wanted EU-related remits.3/
Pan-UKism ignores NI different per GFA eg constitutional status, citizenship, devo terms, cross-border institutions etc.
•Only part of UK that could rejoin EU without Art 49 negotiation.
•Par 17 Strand 2 has NSMC channel for agreed NI views to be represented at EU meetings.4/
•Backstop is not EU control but EU concession favoured by key NI sectors & clearly supported by a democratic majority.
•Next stage insurance not a fixed end state. Its need confirmed by many UK tergiversations on Brexit shape, GFA/border, other pledges eg free movement.5/
"Alternative arrangements" should not just be putative technological solutions. "Flexible & creative.." could include using underused bandwidth in GFA Strand 2 (& 3) for sectors. Aim should be 360° degree protection against borderism stemming from future UK or EU impositions.6/
If UK Brexit approach could not be relied upon with backstop it had agreed & which was designed for their red lines how could they be trusted without the backstop given the impulsive imperatives of new Brexiter red lines and dissolvable promises? 7/
As insurance the backstop guards against detriment to existing flows and cooperation in island space. It does not guarantee development of future options within prospectus of GFA. Those who value backstop will also want new understandings & undertakings to succeed it via GFA.8/
Pursuing alternative arrangements will not just be about technical or diplomatic issues but political choices. Backstop & need to better it would provide balance of insurance, interests & incentives needed to creatively explore GFA processes as channels for agreed alignment.9/
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