Sammy Wilson: UK borders plan will cause ports mayhem

[Talvisota]

The Home Office has been warned that its plans to clamp down on UK borders will create mayhem at Northern Ireland’s ports.

Assembly Minister Sammy Wilson told Minister Meg Hillier football fans travelling to Scotland or England at weekends will be subject to two hours of security clearance at either Larne or Belfast.

The East Antrim DUP MP accused the government of creating a “fortress” with ramped-up border checks that will mean the end of 80 years of free movement in the Common Travel Area.

Mr Wilson said every person entering Britain would have to give one week’s notice and complete a questionnaire which contained some 96 questions.

He added: “I wanted the minister to be very aware of the impact the strategy would have on our ports and those travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

“These measures would mean that there are more restrictions placed on the movement of Northern Ireland citizens than there are on other UK citizens.

“Effectively, Northern Ireland citizens would be treated as second class UK citizens.

“There will be no restrictions placed on the movement of UK citizens between Scotland, England or Wales, but because Northern Ireland has land border with another state, we could be placed outside the e-border around the UK.”

Road blocks will not be introduced along the border between Northern Ireland and the South under the plans. Instead the UK Borders Agency will focus on intelligence-led operations to check on people entering the United Kingdom through the Republic.

Sammy Wilson: UK borders plan will cause ports mayhem - Politics, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

For once I can agree with Sammy, this will be a nightmare. As a citizen of the RoI too, I think this will be a pain in the neck travelling to Britain. Those long qeues at Stansted and Heathrow - I always looked at them and thought "thank ******************** thats not me". I always liked the common travel zone we have (had). How is this al going to work because effectively it's telling the Northern Irish "yeah you're British, but not reallly British".

[Catalpa]

We need an All Ireland Immigration Service that can liase with the authorities across the water to tackle the Immigration Problem both here and over there.

As a high proportion of our illegal immigrants arrive in Britain first B4 moving on here acting in concert would be very benefical for us all.

[Talvisota]

i agree, but wouldn't the best thing to do is keep what we have and just have a tighter control on the borders of both countries which keeps the common travel zones? I guess it'd throw up some problems with regards certain visas and different ways we do things, but thats something easily ironed out I presume?

[Catalpa]

There are four countries involved, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland so which borders are you referring to?

One for each island makes the most sense IMO.

[Odyessus]

For once I can agree with Sammy, this will be a nightmare. As a citizen of the RoI too, I think this will be a pain in the neck travelling to Britain. Those long qeues at Stansted and Heathrow - I always looked at them and thought "thank ******************** thats not me". I always liked the common travel zone we have (had). How is this al going to work because effectively it's telling the Northern Irish "yeah you're British, but not reallly British".

Who are these people that the U.K. wants to stop crossing the border from the republic? Illegal immigrants are crossing the Border to the republic, not the other way round.

[Talvisota]

There are four countries involved, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland so which borders are you referring to?

One for each island makes the most sense IMO.

Scotland, Wales and England are going under one jurisdiction. Obviously. For practical reasons I suppose they're leaving NI out of it so the one that makes most sense is either your solution or the solution whereby Ireland, as an island, comes into this too and have this extended to the whole British Isles. Given the fact that we share a land border with the UK and that we both share a comon travel zone already outside the Schengen, I think it's the best solution.

[Talvisota]

Who are these people that the U.K. wants to stop crossing the border from the republic? Illegal immigrants are crossing the Border to the republic, not the other way round.

good god, just delusion.

[Odyessus]

good god, just delusion.

Can you put that in a sentence?

[forest]

i agree with the statement for the MLA dude that i never heard of
NI is part of the UK and the idea of boarder checks when travelling in one country is ridiculous
The boarder controls should be placed on the Irish/Uk boarder

But as someone who never travels to the UK (any part of it) i really dont give a crap

[Catalpa]

Scotland, Wales and England are going under one jurisdiction. Obviously. For practical reasons I suppose they're leaving NI out of it so the one that makes most sense is either your solution or the solution whereby Ireland, as an island, comes into this too and have this extended to the whole British Isles. Given the fact that we share a land border with the UK and that we both share a comon travel zone already outside the Schengen, I think it's the best solution.

The British what... ????

This is not Britain - this is Ireland!