Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney flails as Northern Irish interviewer discovers he can’t answer border issue At various points he said the party was deciding its policy, that they had a policy he couldn’t announce, and there won’t be a hard border

Newly elected Brexit Party MEP elect Martin Daubney suffered a bruising encounter with BBC Radio Ulster’s Stephen Nolan who challenged him on what the party’s policy would be towards the Irish border.

The former journalist, who will take his seat in the European Parliament in July after winning in the West Midlands, appeared on Mr Nolan’s show on Monday following the results and was challenged on the issue.

The Irish border issue has been a contentious point throughout Brexit negotiations as both side try to reconcile the desire for an invisible border and the UK’s desire to leave the EU’s trade arrangement.

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‘What’s the solution?’

Mr Daubney said: “Well, yeah, we’ve being clear from the start. Nobody wants a hard border. Nobody in the British Government wants a hard border…”

Mr Nolan cut in demanding to know: “What’s the solution?”

As Mr Daubney continued adding: “Nobody in Brussels wants a hard border. Michel Barnier doesn’t want….” the presenter demanded to know again: “What’s the solution?”

Read more: what is the backstop and why is the Irish border such an issue for Brexit

Mr Daubney went on: “The Irish backstop issue became something that was made into political capital, by people trying to derail Brexit, it’s true wasn’t thought about…”

Becoming exasperated the presenter, told him: “You’re filling. What’s the solution?”

He responded: “The solution is we should be looking at technological-based 21st century solutions. There won’t be some man stopping a border in a van.”

‘A technological solution’

The host mocked his suggestion saying: “Is that how advanced the Brexit Party is, the leading party on Brexit? A technological solution, full stop.”

Mr Daubney told him: “This can be done online, it’s what happens at Felixstowe.. Stuff is registered on the appropriate paperwork is filled out online, and the trade in and out…”

But the presenter raised the key issue that a hard border would bring around asking him: “Will there be checks on the border?”

Mr Daubney replied: “No.”

The MEP-elect said that the issue had been overblown and that the concerns around the port of Dover in the south of England has been shown to be “all a scam”.

Border checkpoints were frequent flashpoints for violence during the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland, with many expressing concerns that future border infrastructure could again become a target for terrorism.

‘I can challenge you a little bit harder’

In the exchange, Mr Nolan told his guest: “I’m interviewing you in a different context now you see because now that you’re a Brexit MEP, I can challenge you a little bit harder. So would there be checks on the Irish border?”

He replied: “At the moment, I’m not aware that that will be happening”

“What do you mean at the moment you’re not aware? What’s your policy, your party’s policy, you’re skilled professionals in Brexit. If we went out, left in a no deal scenario, would the Brexit Party support checks on the Irish border?”

Read more: Nigel Farage promises to run Brexit Party candidates in general election

“I’ve already said there would be no hard border, and no people checking backs of vans. You know, we’ll have to wait for a full policy announcement from Nigel on this.”

The former editor of Loaded magazine explained that the party, which came first in the European elections winning 29 seats, was only six weeks old and therefore had not had time to develop policy.

‘The Irish border conundrum is what stalled everything’

Mr Nolan said: “You serious, right? You’re serious that you’re waiting for a full policy announcement on one of the biggest, most talked about Brexit issues over many months, and you don’t know what your policy is on the Irish border.”

He went on to say: Let me get my head around this. Your excuse to people this morning. You’re saying to people ‘vote for us. In fact do more than vote for us this time? We’re ready for a general election, vote for us again’ and on the biggest issue to face this country in terms of the Brexit negotiation, the Irish border conundrum is what stalled everything, on an issue that could affect peace in Northern Ireland, that could affect political stability in Northern Ireland.

“You’re here saying ‘we’re only six weeks old? We haven’t worked it out yet.'”

Mr Daubney said: “No I’m saying that it has been worked out. It just hasn’t been announced.”

“Well, why don’t you announce it,” Mr Nolan asked, but the MEP elect replied that: “I’m not the party leader.”

The presenter pointed out: “You’ve said a couple of minutes ago, Martin, that you’ve got to develop it. So it’s not worked out yet then.”

Mr Daubney said: “I think you’re being harsh. What I’m saying here is that we’ve been absolutely clear, they will not be a hard border that much we know. You know, and the rest will be announced by Nigel in good time.”

“It’s something that’s top of our list is obviously a defining issue of our time and massively important to keeping the union together.”