For months, the SDLP has been making the case that the only way to avoid a hard border and a hard Brexit on the island of Ireland is to maintain membership of the single market and the customs union. However you want to label it, the end result must be the same.

Reports today that the UK could concede the principle that there must be ‘continued regulatory alignment’ with the rules of the single market and the customs union across Ireland, particularly in areas of north/Ssuth cooperation is a positive move.

The Brexit negotiations must be driven by the best interests of people on these islands, not by narrow isolationist ideology. All steps must be taken to protect the north’s economy, our political progress and the terms of the Good Friday agreement. That has long been the position of the European Union. It is welcome that the British government now seems to be accepting that position.

The DUP now must move to act in Northern Ireland’s interest, not simply serve the their own interests.