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Major and Blair to make joint EU appeal in Northern Ireland Major and Blair to make joint EU appeal in Northern Ireland
(about 5 hours later)
Sir John Major and Tony Blair will warn a vote to leave the EU will "jeopardise the unity" of the UK as they campaign together in Northern Ireland.Sir John Major and Tony Blair will warn a vote to leave the EU will "jeopardise the unity" of the UK as they campaign together in Northern Ireland.
They will suggest a Leave vote may re-open Scotland's independence issue and put Northern Ireland's "future at risk" by threatening its hard-won stability.They will suggest a Leave vote may re-open Scotland's independence issue and put Northern Ireland's "future at risk" by threatening its hard-won stability.
But Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said support for the peace process there was "rock solid".But Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said support for the peace process there was "rock solid".
Vote Leave said any suggestion Brexit could threaten this was irresponsible. She said it would be "highly irresponsible" to suggest otherwise.
Reality Check: Would Brexit mean border controls for NI?
The former Conservative and Labour prime ministers, who were instrumental in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s, will hit the campaign trail there as Remain campaigners attempt to make the future of the UK a key question in the 23 June referendum on EU membership.The former Conservative and Labour prime ministers, who were instrumental in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s, will hit the campaign trail there as Remain campaigners attempt to make the future of the UK a key question in the 23 June referendum on EU membership.
It was a message echoed by former US president Bill Clinton in an article for the New Statesman, who said he worried for Northern Ireland's "future prosperity and peace" if the UK votes to leave.
Chancellor George Osborne will travel to Scotland amid warnings that if the UK voted to leave the EU, but Scotland opted to stay in, it could trigger another referendum on Scotland's future in the UK.Chancellor George Osborne will travel to Scotland amid warnings that if the UK voted to leave the EU, but Scotland opted to stay in, it could trigger another referendum on Scotland's future in the UK.
Leave-supporting Conservatives have attacked the claims - saying they buy into the SNP's "bogus narrative" on separation.Leave-supporting Conservatives have attacked the claims - saying they buy into the SNP's "bogus narrative" on separation.
But in a joint appearance, Sir John and Mr Blair - former political rivals who led the country between 1990 and 1997 and 1997 and 2007 respectively - will warn that the "unity of the UK itself is on the ballot paper" in two weeks time.But in a joint appearance, Sir John and Mr Blair - former political rivals who led the country between 1990 and 1997 and 1997 and 2007 respectively - will warn that the "unity of the UK itself is on the ballot paper" in two weeks time.
'Careful foundations''Careful foundations'
Sir John will say there is a "serious risk" of another independence referendum and, if Scotland found itself out of the EU, he could "envisage a different result" to the one in 2014.Sir John will say there is a "serious risk" of another independence referendum and, if Scotland found itself out of the EU, he could "envisage a different result" to the one in 2014.
He will argue that a vote to leave would also risk "destabilising the complicated and multi-layered constitutional settlement that underpins stability in Northern Ireland" - a situation that in his words would be a "dreadful mistake".He will argue that a vote to leave would also risk "destabilising the complicated and multi-layered constitutional settlement that underpins stability in Northern Ireland" - a situation that in his words would be a "dreadful mistake".
And Mr Blair will say Northern Ireland's prosperity and its political arrangements could be negatively affected by a vote to leave.And Mr Blair will say Northern Ireland's prosperity and its political arrangements could be negatively affected by a vote to leave.
"We understand that, although today Northern Ireland is more stable and more prosperous than ever, that stability is poised on carefully constructed foundations," he will say. "And so we are naturally concerned at the prospect of anything that could put those foundations at risk.""We understand that, although today Northern Ireland is more stable and more prosperous than ever, that stability is poised on carefully constructed foundations," he will say. "And so we are naturally concerned at the prospect of anything that could put those foundations at risk."
But Ms Villiers said Northern Ireland would thrive outside the EU and the former leaders' warnings rang hollow. But Ms Villiers, who backs the Leave campaign, said Northern Ireland would thrive outside the EU and the former leaders' warnings rang hollow.
"Support for the peace process in Northern Ireland is rock solid," she said."Support for the peace process in Northern Ireland is rock solid," she said.
"The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland believe their future should only ever be determined by democracy and consent and not by violence. I very much hope figures who played such an important role in the peace process would not suggest that a Brexit vote would weaken that resolve in any way."The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland believe their future should only ever be determined by democracy and consent and not by violence. I very much hope figures who played such an important role in the peace process would not suggest that a Brexit vote would weaken that resolve in any way.
"Whatever the result of the referendum, Northern Ireland is not going back to the troubles of its past and to suggest otherwise would be highly irresponsible.""Whatever the result of the referendum, Northern Ireland is not going back to the troubles of its past and to suggest otherwise would be highly irresponsible."
'Back-door claim''Back-door claim'
Vote Leave has said Irish citizens would still be able to travel freely to and from the UK in the event of it leaving the EU, even though there would be controls on all other EU citizens coming into the UK once the UK was no longer bound by EU-wide freedom of movement rules.Vote Leave has said Irish citizens would still be able to travel freely to and from the UK in the event of it leaving the EU, even though there would be controls on all other EU citizens coming into the UK once the UK was no longer bound by EU-wide freedom of movement rules.
Remain campaigners have questioned the future of the current Common Travel Area in place between the UK and Irish Republic in the event of Brexit, suggesting that unless it was fully policed it could become a back-door route for "illegal immigration" from elsewhere in the EU.Remain campaigners have questioned the future of the current Common Travel Area in place between the UK and Irish Republic in the event of Brexit, suggesting that unless it was fully policed it could become a back-door route for "illegal immigration" from elsewhere in the EU.
But Ms Villiers rejected this, saying the agreement had been in place since 1923, was enshrined in UK law and would stay in place.But Ms Villiers rejected this, saying the agreement had been in place since 1923, was enshrined in UK law and would stay in place.
Parties split
"The idea that thousands of non-Irish EU citizens would suddenly start crossing the border is far-fetched," she said."The idea that thousands of non-Irish EU citizens would suddenly start crossing the border is far-fetched," she said.
"If we vote leave and change the rules on free movement for non-Irish EU citizens, then if they come to the UK across our land border without legal clearance to do so, they would not be able to work, or claim benefits, or rent a home, or open a bank account and could ultimately be deported. "If we vote Leave and change the rules on free movement for non-Irish EU citizens, then if they come to the UK across our land border without legal clearance to do so, they would not be able to work, or claim benefits, or rent a home, or open a bank account and could ultimately be deported.
"There are plenty of mechanisms we can use to control immigration and deal with risks around illegal migration which do not involve physical checks at our land border.""There are plenty of mechanisms we can use to control immigration and deal with risks around illegal migration which do not involve physical checks at our land border."
Northern Ireland's political parties are split over the issue of EU membership, with the DUP - including first minister Arlene Foster - backing the Leave campaign while Sinn Fein and others back Remain.Northern Ireland's political parties are split over the issue of EU membership, with the DUP - including first minister Arlene Foster - backing the Leave campaign while Sinn Fein and others back Remain.