228. How Brexit Was Negotiated: Prof. Katy Hayward
6 July 2026
About This Episode
How was Brexit negotiated, and why did the Irish border become the defining challenge?
In Part 2 of this three-part conversation, Professor Katy Hayward of Queen's University Belfast traces the negotiations that followed the 2016 Brexit referendum. From Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement and the backstop to Boris Johnson's renegotiated Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, she explains the competing priorities facing London, Dublin, Belfast and Brussels.
Together we examine why the search for technological solutions was often described as a search for "unicorns", how the Good Friday Agreement shaped the negotiations, and why seemingly simple proposals became some of the most difficult constitutional questions in modern British and Irish politics.
Whether you're new to Brexit or looking for a deeper understanding of its impact on Northern Ireland, this conversation provides a balanced, accessible guide to one of the most complex political negotiations of recent decades.
This is Part 2 of a three-part series with Professor Katy Hayward.
Professor Katy Hayward
Professor Katy Hayward is Professor of Political Sociology at Queen's University Belfast and one of the leading academic experts on Brexit, Northern Ireland and UK–EU relations. Her research focuses on borders, conflict resolution, constitutional change and the political consequences of Brexit.