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Tony Blair and John Major: Brexit would close Irish border Tony Blair and John Major: Brexit would close Irish border
(35 minutes later)
Tony Blair and Sir John Major have said that leaving the European Union would mean imposing border controls and customs checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Tony Blair and Sir John Major have said that leaving the EU would mean imposing border controls and customs checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
In a symbolic joint appearance in Derry the former prime ministers, both of whom played key roles in the Northern Ireland peace process, stressed the risks of voting to leave the EU in the 23 June referendum. In a symbolic joint appearance in Derry, the former prime ministers, both of whom played key roles in the Northern Ireland peace process, stressed the risks of voting to leave the EU in the 23 June referendum.
Blair told an audience at Ulster University that a vote to leave would result in the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic becoming the frontier between the UK and the rest of the EU.Blair told an audience at Ulster University that a vote to leave would result in the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic becoming the frontier between the UK and the rest of the EU.
Related: Brexit threat causes alarm among Northern Irish border communitiesRelated: Brexit threat causes alarm among Northern Irish border communities
That would make Vote Leave’s pledge to restrict EU immigration impossible to achieve without ditching the common travel area that currently allows the public to move freely between the two countries, he said. “What you would actually have to do is end up with having border controls, and customs checks.” That would make Vote Leave’s pledge to restrict EU immigration impossible to achieve without ditching the common travel area that currently allows the public to move freely between the two countries, he said. “What you would actually have to do is end up with having border controls and customs checks.”
Major, who was Blair’s predecessor in No 10, said leaving the EU would put the Republic of Ireland on “the opposite side of the table”, as the UK sought to negotiate an exit with the 27 other EU member states.Major, who was Blair’s predecessor in No 10, said leaving the EU would put the Republic of Ireland on “the opposite side of the table”, as the UK sought to negotiate an exit with the 27 other EU member states.
He also said pressure for a fresh referendum on Scottish independence could become “politically irresistible” if people in Scotland voted to remain in the EU but the UK as a whole pulled out. For that reason, he said, Brexit could undermine the entire constitutional settlement of the UK.He also said pressure for a fresh referendum on Scottish independence could become “politically irresistible” if people in Scotland voted to remain in the EU but the UK as a whole pulled out. For that reason, he said, Brexit could undermine the entire constitutional settlement of the UK.
“The plain, uncomfortable truth is that the unity of the UK itself is on the ballot paper in two weeks’ time,” he said. “There is a serious risk of a new referendum, not immediately perhaps, but eventually.”“The plain, uncomfortable truth is that the unity of the UK itself is on the ballot paper in two weeks’ time,” he said. “There is a serious risk of a new referendum, not immediately perhaps, but eventually.”
The two men, who referred to to each other as John and Tony, also underlined the importance of EU membership for employment and business.The two men, who referred to to each other as John and Tony, also underlined the importance of EU membership for employment and business.
“Just like prime ministers before us and after us, Tony and I fought hard to persuade our fellow EU leaders to continue to build the single market. We did so because it’s of great benefit to Britain.” Major said: “Just like prime ministers before us and after us, Tony and I fought hard to persuade our fellow EU leaders to continue to build the single market. We did so because it’s of great benefit to Britain.”
Major fought a bitter battle against backbench Tory rebels over Europe during his premiership, and has made a series of spiky interventions in the referendum, including branding leading Vote Leave campaigner a “court jester”.Major fought a bitter battle against backbench Tory rebels over Europe during his premiership, and has made a series of spiky interventions in the referendum, including branding leading Vote Leave campaigner a “court jester”.
Blair said that for Britain to split from its neighbours would be to “go against the grain of the future”, which was about countries coming together.Blair said that for Britain to split from its neighbours would be to “go against the grain of the future”, which was about countries coming together.