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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| EU Referendum: Tony Blair and John Major warn Brexit could lead to break-up of UK | EU Referendum: Tony Blair and John Major warn Brexit could lead to break-up of UK |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sir John Major and Tony Blair have warned that a vote to leave the EU would be a "historic mistake" which could break up the UK. | Sir John Major and Tony Blair have warned that a vote to leave the EU would be a "historic mistake" which could break up the UK. |
| The former adversaries shared a platform at the Ulster University's Magee campus in Londonderry, and warned that Brexit could threaten Northern Ireland's hard-fought peace process. | The former adversaries shared a platform at the Ulster University's Magee campus in Londonderry, and warned that Brexit could threaten Northern Ireland's hard-fought peace process. |
| Sir John said: "I believe it would be an historic mistake to do anything that has any risk of destabilising the complicated and multi-layered constitutional settlement that underpins stability in Northern Ireland." | Sir John said: "I believe it would be an historic mistake to do anything that has any risk of destabilising the complicated and multi-layered constitutional settlement that underpins stability in Northern Ireland." |
| Both men played crucial roles in the Northern Ireland peace process, and Sir John warned that the wrong outcome on 23 June could "tear apart the UK". | |
| Mr Blair hit out at the Leave campaign, claiming it puts an "ideological fixation" with Brexit ahead of the damage it would cause. | Mr Blair hit out at the Leave campaign, claiming it puts an "ideological fixation" with Brexit ahead of the damage it would cause. |
| He said: "I say, don't take a punt on these people. Don't let them take risks with Northern Ireland's future. Don't let them undermine our United Kingdom. | He said: "I say, don't take a punt on these people. Don't let them take risks with Northern Ireland's future. Don't let them undermine our United Kingdom. |
| "We understand that, although today Northern Ireland is more stable and more prosperous than ever, stability is poised on carefully-constructed foundations. | |
| But the pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Nigel Dodds condemned the former prime minister's comments as "irresponsible nonsense". | |
| He said: "Surely this is the most irresponsible talk that can be perpetuated in terms of Northern Ireland – very dangerous, destabilising and it should not be happening," he added during the business statement in the Commons. | |
| Elsewhere, former US president Bill Clinton, whose 1995 visit to Northern Ireland was seen as a crucial moment in the peace process, said he was worried about the potential impact of Brexit on the province. | Elsewhere, former US president Bill Clinton, whose 1995 visit to Northern Ireland was seen as a crucial moment in the peace process, said he was worried about the potential impact of Brexit on the province. |
| Writing in the New Statesman magazine, Mr Clinton said: "I was honoured to support the peace process in Northern Ireland. It has benefited from the UK's membership in the European Union, and I worry that the future prosperity and peace of Northern Ireland could be jeopardised if Britain withdraws." | Writing in the New Statesman magazine, Mr Clinton said: "I was honoured to support the peace process in Northern Ireland. It has benefited from the UK's membership in the European Union, and I worry that the future prosperity and peace of Northern Ireland could be jeopardised if Britain withdraws." |
| The former president, who worked with Sir John and Mr Blair on the peace process, added: "Transatlantic co-operation is essential, and that co-operation is strongest when Europe is united... I hope you will stay." | |
| Both former prime ministers had integral roles in helping to end the sectarian violence which blighted Northern Ireland for decades. | Both former prime ministers had integral roles in helping to end the sectarian violence which blighted Northern Ireland for decades. |
| In 1993, Sir John and Irish prime minister Albert Reynolds delivered the Downing Street Declaration which argued for self-determination on the basis of consent and paved the way for the IRA ceasefires the following year. | In 1993, Sir John and Irish prime minister Albert Reynolds delivered the Downing Street Declaration which argued for self-determination on the basis of consent and paved the way for the IRA ceasefires the following year. |
| Sir John told the audience of teenage schoolchildren who had packed into Magee's Great Hall: "I carried this forward and Tony completed it." | Sir John told the audience of teenage schoolchildren who had packed into Magee's Great Hall: "I carried this forward and Tony completed it." |
| Five years later, in 1998, the British and Irish governments concluded the historic Good Friday Agreement which cemented the stability and laid the foundations for the devolved power-sharing Stormont Executive. | Five years later, in 1998, the British and Irish governments concluded the historic Good Friday Agreement which cemented the stability and laid the foundations for the devolved power-sharing Stormont Executive. |
| Here are some of the claims made by the two camps: | Here are some of the claims made by the two camps: |
| Remain camp says: | Remain camp says: |
| Leave camp says: | Leave camp says: |