On Saturday 26 January 2019, BBC Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys was presenting his show on the topic of Brexit, with the Irish Minister of State Helen McEntee as interviewee.
There was mention of the border with Ireland. McEntee told Humphrys that in the event of No Deal, Ireland was not planning to re-introduce a hard border and urged the UK to honour its commitment to free movement between the North and South of Ireland, as has been the case since the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement nearly 21 years ago.
Uncontroversial? But Humphrys pushed the issue the other way, by going on to say: “There has to be an argument, doesn’t there, that says instead of Dublin telling this country that we have to stay in the single market etc, within the customs union, why doesn’t Dublin, why doesn’t the Republic of Ireland, leave the EU and throw in their lot with this country?”
Humphrys’ statement drew outrage and widespread condemnation. Labour MP Ben Bradshaw Tweeted that he was “gobsmacked” at the suggestion that “the solution to #Brexitshambles is for Ireland to leave the EU and rejoin the UK! Such woeful ignorance of history and of modern day Ireland.”
MEP Molly Scott Cato Tweeted: “To hear Humphrys suggest to the Irish Europe Minister that Ireland should leave the EU to help us solve our Brexit shitshow was a shameful demonstration of arrogance and showed disrespectful disregard for our mutual history.”
Another Twitter user wrote: “What a stupid and insulting idea. Can’t think why they’d turn down the chance of medicine shortages and a smashed economy knowing they’d be helping our WWII obsessed clowns create Empire 2.0.”
Here are five reasons why Ireland leaving the EU to join the UK should never be on the cards:
This is an increase from the previous (still significantly high) 88% back when the referendum first happened.
- Not even Northern Ireland is behind Brexit
In the Brexit referendum, 56% of Northern Irish voters voted to remain in the EU. There have been talks before about Irish reunification and with both parts of the island of Ireland being in favour of remaining in the EU, perhaps we will lose a member of the UK rather than gain a new one.
- The fight for independence
The Republic of Ireland fought long and hard for independence from the United Kingdom. It would be stupid and disrespectful to assume that they’ll forget the blood that was shed just to help us sort out a mess of our own making.
- Economy
The Republic of Ireland has prospered since it gained independence from the UK. Despite the likelihood that Irish businesses will take a hit from even the softest version of Brexit, the economy is still expected to continue to grow overall. The country is also the front-runner in providing a new, European, home to British businesses that rely on the EU for their existence – this can only be of benefit to Ireland.
- Return to violence?
Let me just remind everyone about a group that isn’t exactly the biggest fan of the UK. This group is called the Irish Republican Army (IRA). They have done enough damage by way of fighting for Irish independence – and attacks and planned attacks by breakaway sections have already resumed in Northern Ireland (though they never really stopped, we just stopped hearing about them). Does the UK really believe that dissident Republican groups will sit by and accept whatever we say? I think not.
