Simon Coveney said if Boris Johnson pulled the UK out of the EU without a withdrawal deal it would pose a risk to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The country second most powerful politician told BBC Radio: “Trade across 300 road crossings that has created a normality and a peace that is settled on the island of Ireland for the last 20 years, that now faces significant disruption. That is what we’re fighting for here.
“Ireland is in no doubt as to what a no deal means for us. It is very damaging, very difficult and it poses huge questions for politics and potentially for the management of civic unrest in the context of Northern Ireland, around the border question. ”
But North Antrim MP Ian Paisley rebuked Leo Varadkar’s deputy and accused him of using a “threat” of violence to forward his anti-Brexit position.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP said: “It’s disgusting anyone would want to seek to threaten violence because of Brexit.
“Perhaps Mr Coveney should take a vow of silence.”
Mr Paisley slammed Mr Coveney for saying a no-deal could bring about violence in Northern Ireland(Image: PA / GETTY)
Northern I reland voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum(Image: Express)
Thousands of people were killed in Northern Ireland during the period known as the Troubles, between 1968 and 1998, the majority of which were civilians.
Speaking days after Mr Johnson held talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Luxembourg, Mr Coveney said the two sides were no closer to striking a deal than before.
However the prime minister has said “progress” has been made on the Brexit front while Mr Juncker said he believes a deal can be done.
Mr Coveny said: “There are serious problems that arise because of the change in approach by the British Prime Minister – asking to remove a very significant section within the Withdrawal Agreement without any serious proposals as to how you solve those problems is not going to be the basis for an agreement.
“That’s why I think there is an onus on the British Government to come forward with alternative arrangements – if they have them – which can resolve the Irish border question. ”
READ MORE:DUP MEP cut off by EU chief as she hits out at Barnier over backstop
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Veteran presenter John Humphrys has savaged the BBC for its “liberal bias ”and claimed its out-of-touch bosses saw the Brexit vote as an unexpected“ disaster ”after failing to read the mood of voters.
Jus t two days after he retiring from the BBC Radio 4’s Today program the Welshman called out what he saw as “poor news management” and “Kremlin” -style orders from those at the top of the corporation where he worked for 32 years.
The 76 – year-old recalled how the result of the June 2016 “exposed a fundamental flaw in the culture of the BBC”, with baffled bosses making “ no attempt to prevent that this was anything other than a disaster ”.
Remembering the morning after the Brexit vote, he said:“ Leave had won – and that was not what the BBC had expected . Nor what it wanted.
“No nods and smiles when the big bosses appeared.
“ No attempt to pretend that this was anything other than a disaster. ”
13 . 08 update:Jeremy Corbyn could scrap Brexit within six months of becoming PM
Labor’s draft statement on Brexit states they would deal with the UK’s departure from the EU “one way or another” within six months of taking power.
The statement says Jeremy Corbyn’s party would strike a divorce agreement with the EU in three months if he takes the keys to Downing Street.
Labor would then hold a second referendum within six months putting their Brexit deal and the option to remain to the public.
12. 27 update:Tom Watson once mocked the Lib Dems for not respecting Brexit referendum
Tom Watson was almost removed as Labor Deputy this morning over his pro-Remain Brexit stance, which is highly at odds with the one of Jeremy Corbyn,
Mr Watson wants to prioritise reversing Brexit through another referendum, over winning power in a general election.
However, only three years ago, the Labor Deputy heavily condemned the Liberal Democrats for trying to “thwart the will” of the British people over the referendum, describing them as “Brexit deniers”.
He also confirmed Labor would not attempt to halt the triggering of Article 50.
He said: “I know some people feel that politicians who campaigned against Brexit are still trying to stop it happening, ignoring the clear decision the British people made back in June.
“I have to say those fears aren’t completely unfounded.
“The Lib Dems are desperately, openly, shamelessly trying to recover some sort of electoral relevance by coming out as Brexit Deniers.”
11. 40 am update: Jeremy Corbyn’s latest Brexit plan revealed
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labor Party would secure a “sensible “deal to leave the European Union within three months and would hold a second referendum on the deal or staying in the bloc within six months, a draft statement said.
The draft statement, seen by Reuters, says: “After three years of shambolic Tory (Conservative) negotiations and parliamentary deadlock, a Labor government will get Brexit sorted one way or another within six months of coming to power. “
The statement, which has yet to be agreed at Labor’s annual conference in the seaside resort of Brighton, sets out that a Labor government would” secure a sensible leave deal with the EU within three months, and within six months would put it before the people in a referendum alongside the option to remain. “
10. 55 am update: Labor withdraws plan to oust Tom Watson
A plot by Labor activists to oust Tom Watson from his role as deputy leader has been abandoned.
Momentum founder Jon Lansman launched a bid to remove the position of deputy leader last night.
However, following backlash to the plans, which Mr Watson said were motivated by position on Brexit, a vote on the proposal has been scrapped.
Labor MP Wes Streeting wrote on Twitter: “Motion withdrawn, now that consequences of it going ahead have been made clear by MPs and unions.
“ Labor conference opens with headlines about division and civil war.
“Excellent health, environment and workplace rights announcements drowned out. Shameful from Lansman and Momentum. ”
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A plot to oust Tom Watson has failed(Image: GETTY)
10. 10 am update: Boris threatens Tory Brexiteers who refuse to vote for EU deal
Boris Johnson has warned members of the eurosceptic European Research Group and other hard-line Brexiteers they risk being kicked out of the Conservative party if they fail to vote for a revised withdrawal agreement.
The Prime Minister is currently attempting to re-negotiate Theresa May’s deal which was rejected in the House of Commons three times.
In an attempt to try and ensure his own deal passes through Parliament Mr Johnson is though to be taking a firm line with potential rebels.
A senior source: “If you don’t vote for the deal, you’re out.”
9. 45 am update: Sajid Javid planning spending boom if Brexit deal agreed
Chancellor Sajid Javid is planning a pre-election giveaway budget in the week of October 21 if the UK strikes a Brexit deal with the European Union and parliament votes for it, the Financial Times has reported.
Mr Javid cannot announce a date yet for the pre-election giveaway budget as the plan is dependent on reaching a deal so that any Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts are positive, the newspaper said.
9. 14 am update: Tom Watson says his support for second Brexit referendum behind plot to oust him
The deputy leader of Britain’s main opposition Labor Party said on Saturday that his stance on Brexit, where he backs a second referendum before a parliamentary election, unlike leader Jeremy Corbyn, is behind efforts by some in the party to remove him.
At a meeting of Labor’s National Executive Committee on Friday, Jon Lansman, the founder of the left-wing grassroots movement Momentum, proposed a motion to abolish the post of deputy leader, citing disloyalty over Brexit, according to two party officials.
The chair ruled that the motion should be thrown out and members then voted 17 to 10 to overturn that decision, just short of the two-thirds majority they needed, the officials said.
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