Leader of DUP says, Northern Ireland cannot be annexed by EU

Northern Ireland cannot be annexed by the European Union via the bloc's demands for-a regulatory regime that is separate to-the rest of the United Kingdom as a backstop to Brexit talks, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party said.

Arlene Foster told-a meeting on Tuesday at Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party conference: "Northern Ireland is not about-to become a semi-detached part of the United Kingdom.

"Barnier cannot annexe off apart of the United Kingdom so that-he can say that that's the way to go forward. We are not bluffing on this issue," she said, referring to-the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.