Northern Ireland was the sticking point over a negotiated deal to leave the EU. Teresa May’s government was dependent on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party – who objected to and helped bring down her exit deal. This talk explains why there is a ‘Northern Ireland’, its history, and why it was such a bone of contention for London and Brussels as the UK attempted to untangle itself from the EU.

To say the history of Northern Ireland is complicated would be an understatement. The talk covers the political developments producing Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists, the Troubles, the Peace Process, and Good Friday Agreement. Most relevantly, it explains the ‘Back-stop’, ‘Protocol’, and ‘Windsor Framework’: what they meant for the UK, why they have been problematic, and where we are today. Understanding the historical background is essential to grasping the complexities of the Northern Ireland issue as the UK and the EU seek a workable relationship and try to move forward.