Thread by @markdurkan

DUP current lines re Brexit, consent, democracy & GFA need more than pinch of truthful salt added.

•DUP opposed GFA (even after referendum consent).
•DUP pushed "Leave" rubbishing all concerns re GFA impacts.
•DUP insist Brexit to be imposed on NI against public choice. 1/.

•DUP opposed all calls for parliamentary oversight of Brexit negotiations
•DUP rejected case for devolved consent on Brexit terms even if devolved powers (Scotland/Wales) affected
•DUP blasted Miller decision by SupCourt but cheered rulings on Brexit not engaging consent 2/

•DUP insisted withdrawal terms were for government not parliament or devolved bodies.
•DUP rejected civic dialogue invitation by Irish Government open to all parties & sectors North & South on without prejudice basis
•DUP opposed amendments to Brexit Bills to protect GFA 3/

•DUP rejected any argument that terms in which NI differs from rest of UK via GFA etc should be reflected in Brexit terms
•DUP have backed hard & No Deal Brexit options reckless to consequences & regardless of consent
•DUP backed No Deal Brexit for 31 Oct without CONSENT 4/

Letwin amendment (rightly passed in Commons) is first time DUP have supported need for due scrutiny re Brexit terms.

Many deep concerns eg level playing field, trap door to no deal etc & final say referendum to be pressed in Bill amendments.

DUP unlikely to back these. 5/

DUP distortively invoke GFA to push Jeffreymandered terms for consent ie VETO for themselves!

DUP who opposed devolved says in Scotland & Wales;
DUP who oppose a final say for people of UK;
DUP who wanted Brexit imposed on their terms without anyone else's consent in NI; 6/

DUP who opposed final say for people of NI on backstop;
DUP who oppose final say for people on new terms;

Want FINAL SAY VETO for DUP against UK-EU compromise to reflect GFA, sustain NI access to both island market+EU & UK market+free trade deals & reduce Brexit impact. 7/

DUP, ERG et als' rash rhetoric on Brexit/backstop etc means many Unionists now have undue concerns.
Any genuine misgivings need answered by clarification & assurance re GFA compatibility, real consent principle & relative economic advantage beside Brexit risk to interests. 8/

DUP have been smug authors of problems Brexit has created for GFA & all in NI, foolish agents of predictable 'let down' they now feel & disdainful of others' rights & interests - democratic & economic.

That is how they used unique power of influence in current Commons. 9/

Giving DUP a veto in NI over UK-EU compromise for island economy won't redress complaint in name of democratic consent but reward false politics with anti-democratic control.

GFA was framed to ensure foundational North-South terms could not be foreclosed by pulling consent. 10/

This isn't a passing distraction re procedural advantage in Assembly.

If deal's feared "trap door to No Deal" opens &/or "no level playing field" reigns, DUP will use veto in NI to insist on "same whole of UK" terms & scuttle GFA Strand2/island economy ambit & benefits to all.•