Another day, another staggering remark.
In terms of the most recent developments about Brexit, Theresa May’s cabinet has met for the first time since various members quit over her EU withdrawal agreement. At present, May faces a revolt from the Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 MPs prop up the Tory government via their confidence and supply agreement.
Under the terms of the deal, agreed after May lost her majority in the House of Commons following last year’s general election, the DUP are supposed to back May’s government on budget matters and on confidence votes.
The DUP abstained from the recent Budget votes with many thinking the act was a deliberate warning shot over what they believe are her broken promises on Brexit.
At present, the DUP are playing hardball.
Speaking on Sky News, the party’s spokesman Sammy Wilson said that their efforts were “directed to defeat this deal and force a rethink”.
“We are going to vote against this deal because we believe that in the long term , it will remove Northern Ireland for the UK and cut Northern Ireland off from the most lucrative market that we have,” said Wilson.
Those are the facts but what’s not factual is the latest statement from Shailesh Vara, the former Northern Ireland minister who resigned from the position last week in protest at May’s draft Brexit deal.
After standing down from his position, Vara said: “We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart. We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better. That is why I cannot support this agreement.”
Well, it appears that geography/social-political history isn’t Vara’s strong subject because in a recent interview with the BBC, he said that “It’s important to remember that Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain by virtue of the principle of consent.”
Ok, let’s make this very clear.
England is a country that is part of Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean that’s comprised of England, Scotland and Wales and their component adjoining islands.
The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and many smaller islands.
Northern Ireland is NOT part of Great Britain.
As for his reference to ‘the principle of consent,’ well, we’re not sure how many Irish people consented to the plantation of Ulster that took place between 1609 and 1690 – and the various other plantations that occurred around Ireland.
This being said, with regards to Brexit and the democratic consent of the people of Northern Ireland, voters indicated that the majority wanted no part of Brexit, with the Remain side in the north taking 55.77% of the vote.
Take a look at the interview featuring the former Northern Ireland Minister below.
WATCH
Former Northern Ireland minister @ShaileshVara : "It's important to remember that Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain by virtue of the principle of consent." pic.twitter.com/9uyCJFMWP5
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) November 20, 2018
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