There is no land border anywhere in the world that does not involve some kind of checks on the goods and vehicles that pass across — outside those countries that have joined in a customs union. Pessimists (and the European Union) say that this demonstrates why the Irish backstop is a vital part of any Brexit deal. Optimists (and Brexiteers) dismiss this as nonsense, arguing that it shows a lack of ambition, that a frictionless border is possible even with existing technology — all it needs is the political will to make it work. Today’s report by Prosperity UK is an attempt to examine the issue afresh. As a grouping of politicians, academics and business people it is perhaps at the Brexit end of the…

Source: The Times June 24, 2019 11:03 UTC