“I’m embarrassed to be a Conservative.”
Conservative MP Anna Soubry appeared as a guest on Morning Ireland on Wednesday and took the opportunity to apologise on behalf of the Conservative Party for their behaviour towards Ireland in recent years.
In recent months, some provocative and ignorant comments about Ireland from the likes of Boris Johnson, David Davis, Priti Patel have been well documented and that was before it emerged that an unnamed Conservative MP recently remarked that “the Irish should know their place” in relation to the Brexit negotiations.
With all that in mind, Soubry was profusely apologetic following a call for a vote of no confidence in Theresa May’s leadership and the turmoil in the Conservative Party.
During May’s address at Downing Street on Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister unsurprisingly confirmed that she will not be coming to Dublin and that she “will contest that (no confidence) vote with everything I have got”.
Prior to May’s speech, Soubry spoke eloquently about Anglo-Irish relations and stated: “Not even the Conservative Party could be so foolish to remove leader at this time… embarrassed to call myself a Conservative.”
Soubry also called on her fellow party members to “grow up” and start thinking of the future.
Regarding the recent stance on Irish affairs, she said : “I can only apologise for the atrocious behaviour of my colleagues.”
Nicola Sturgeon echoed these sentiments.
Today is a stark reminder that the UK is facing chaos and crisis entirely because of a vicious civil war within the Tory party. What a self-centred bunch they are. They all need to go, not just the PM.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 12, 2018
Soubry’s remarks left an impression on those that were listening.
Tory MP @Anna_Soubry just apologised profusely on irish radio for what her party is doing.#Brexit
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) December 12, 2018
There’s @Anna_Soubry apologising to the people of Ireland for the wretched behaviour of her party over the past couple of years on @morningireland . We’re not in Kansas any more Toto #brexitchaos
— Paddy McKenna (@PaddyMcKenna) December 12, 2018
UK followers, @Anna_Soubry has just been on national radio in Ireland and profusely apologised for what "my party" has been doing for past number of years.
"I'm embarrassed to be a Conservative".
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) December 12, 2018
.@Anna_Soubry on @morningireland giving a heartfelt apology to Irish listeners for the Brexit mess, the Conservative party, the European Research Group, Boris Johnson……
— Rhona Tarrant (@RhonaTarrant) December 12, 2018
@Anna_Soubry apologises to the Irish people for this 'wretched' situation that her party has caused…she's probably the only one of that lot I'd have a drink with @Conservatives @morningireland #Brexit
— Dr Carrie Griffin (@CarrieGrif) December 12, 2018
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