The Government’s motion reiterating its approach to Brexit was defeated in the House of Commons, alongside several amendments brought by Labour and the SNP.
“Today’s debate resolved little and only served to waste more time – precious time the UK, and in particular Northern Ireland, doesn’t have,” said Dr Farry.
“Both the Government and Opposition are continually kicking the can down the road. Delay only serves to indulge delusions and to facilitate the chasing of unicorns. But delay fuels uncertainty and means more and more businesses have to take decisions on their futures which impact on jobs and people’s livelihoods. Every day this goes on real and irreversible damage is occurring.
“The Prime Minister’s attempt to renegotiate the backstop are going nowhere. The backstop is rightly regarded as critical to protect the Good Friday Agreement. Her only realistic options are to move to the centre-ground and build a coalition around a softer version of Brexit or to ask for an extension of Article 50 to put her deal to a referendum.