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Brexit: Arlene Foster to reaffirm opposition to backstop at conference

BBC Arlene FosterBBC
Arlene Foster has said the government should "ditch the backstop"

DUP leader Arlene Foster will reaffirm her party's opposition to the Irish border backstop when she addresses her annual conference later.

The party has said it will not back the government's Brexit deal because of the backstop, which aims to avoid a hard Irish border.

It would see only NI stay aligned to some EU rules, if it came into effect.

Brexit is likely to dominate the conference, with former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson due to appear.

On Friday night, Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered a speech at the conference after a dinner event.

He is among a number of cabinet ministers who have urged support for the prime minister's plan.

But the DUP has warned that its MPs will vote down the deal in the Commons if the backstop proposal is not scrapped.

Speaking to BBC's Inside Politics on Friday, Mrs Foster defended that decision.

"Instead of wasting time promoting a deal that's not going to get support, wouldn't it be much better to use that time to get a better deal and ditch the Irish backstop, because of course it is not needed," she said.

She argued that the prospect of such a hard border has taken on a "mythical status" in the Brexit negotiations.

Liam McBurney/pa Arlene Foster, Philip Hammond and Nigel DoddsLiam McBurney/pa
Philip Hammond had a series of engagements in Northern Ireland on Friday before attending the DUP conference

Earlier on Friday, Mr Hammond told the BBC that the government is looking at ways to provide extra assurances to the DUP over the Irish border backstop.

He was speaking during a visit to an integrated school in Moira, County Down.

Mr Hammond said the government has a number of choices through the "parliamentary process", which include extending the implementation period to avoid having to use the backstop.

"I would much prefer to see us extending the implementation period and I am sure my DUP colleagues would take the same view," he said.

Arlene Foster and Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson - pictured with Arlene Foster - is due to give a speech at the conference

Mrs Foster has also said if the deal does get through parliament, the DUP would have to revisit its confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives.

The party's 10 MPs support Theresa May's minority government on key legislation in the Commons.

In exchange, the DUP negotiated an extra £1bn in spending for Northern Ireland, to be spent over two years.

Brexit agreement: What does the 585-page document say?

The government of Gibraltar will also be represented at the conference.

Gibraltar has become involved in the Brexit debate as Spain is seeking written assurances from the UK that it will be directly consulted over its future trade negotiations with the EU which relate to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his backing for the overall deal cannot be taken for granted, although no one country can block the withdrawal agreement on its own at this stage.