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Politics

17th Oct 2018

British MP raises the stakes with yet another stupid comment about Ireland

Carl Kinsella

Kate Hoey

Brexit chaos continues.

Labour MP Kate Hoey, renowned for her staunchly pro-Brexit views, has now offered one of the more nonsensical suggestions to solve the border crisis.

Writing on Twitter, Hoey said: “If a backstop is such a good idea to sort the border issue why do we not go for a backstop around the entire British Isles then Irish Republic can be part of it too”.

The backstop is something of a failsafe deal that would allow for trade and freedom of movement to continue on Irish soil even if no final deal is established between the European Union and the UK by the March deadline. However, hardline Brexiteers and other forces like the DUP are doing all they can to ensure no such backstop agreement can be established.

People were quick to point out that, even aside from the suggestion that the UK can just do what it wants with the Republic of Ireland, such a thing is unnecessary… because Ireland isn’t leaving the EU.

Comedian Stephen Mangan suggested that it might be the stupidest tweet of 2018 so far, and frankly, it’s a pretty good shout. Following other comments this week by Stanley Johnson and Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, it really is like these guys are having some kind of competition.

Topics:

Brexit