Labour has talked itself into a strange place on the Irish border. Since the publication of the draft withdrawal agreement last week, Jeremy Corbyn has – to increasing consternation on his own benches – repeatedly attacked the backstop in terms one would expect to hear from the DUP or European Research Group.
Best understood as an EU insurance policy for avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, the backstop will see Northern Ireland remain in a deeper customs union with Europe than the rest of the United Kingdom. It will also see single market regulations apply to Northern Ireland alone, necessitating new checks in the Irish Sea (or a border, if you want to call it that). The UK will not be able to leave unilaterally.
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