UK Labor Leader Corbyn Warns Against Brexit With Hard Irish Border

The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland remains one of the sticking points of Brexit talks given that the UK's withdrawal from the EU may create problems for the free movement of goods and workers between the Republic of Ireland and Britain's Northern Irish counties.

Speaking at Queen's University in Belfast later on Thursday, Labor Leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to point out that his party will never say "yes" to a Brexit deal that stipulates the sides' return to a hard border, according to the BBC.

During his first visit to Northern Ireland since his election as Labor leader in 2015, Corbyn will also underscore the necessity of maintaining an open border which he will say symbolizes peace rather than helping scrap paperwork or tariffs.

READ MORE: Northern Irish Border May Become 'Lawless Space' Due to Hard Brexit

In his speech, he may also tout the Labor Party's proposal on a full-fledged EU-UK customs union which Corbyn will say should prevent Northern Ireland communities from being divided.

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Theresa May stressed that the UK government would ensure the absence of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn

© REUTERS / Jeff Overs

European Council President Donald Tusk in March warned that London's stance on exit from the EU single market and customs union might lead to the establishment of a hard border in Ireland, a scenario which Tusk said Brussels would like to avoid.

READ MORE: Brexit's Your Mess, Fix the Irish Border Issue or No Deal — Donald Tusk Tells UK

The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland remains an obstacle on the agenda of Brexit talks as London's pullout from the EU might create difficulties for free movement of goods and workers between the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Irish counties of the United Kingdom as well as a return a hard border between them in potential violation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which specifically stipulates that no physical border should exist between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

READ MORE: UK to Leave Customs Union When Brexit Transition Period Ends in 2020 — Spokesman

Even though London and Brussels have reached a consensus that there will be no hard border, the sides remain at loggerheads over ways to implement the task.

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union.

The negotiations between Britain and Brussels are due to be completed by the end of March 2019, but London has been seeking a two-year transition period to smooth the exit, as well as guarantees of a future relationship with the bloc.