A strange choice of words, no doubt.
DUP Leader Arlene Foster has been at loggerheads with the Irish government in Dáil Éireann over their approach to Brexit.
Similarly, the DUP's approach has been hardline. The party, which narrowly won the most seats in the 2017 Northern Ireland election (though it has failed to form an Assembly), will not settle for any Brexit deal that sees the north operate under different economic rules than Great Britain.
This is a point of contention, as if Northern Ireland were to conform to the single market and customs union rules, there would be no need whatsoever for a hard border.
However, Foster has not relented, and today she chose some very emphatic words to make herself clear.
Speaking to BBC Radio Four at the Conservative Party conference, Foster said "There cannot be a border down the Irish Sea, a differential between Northern Ireland
and the rest of the UK. This is too important for us to be playing around with things, because this is a union."
When asked by the BBC interviewer "how red" her red line was, Foster said "The line is blood red, it is very red."
Foster went on to say that she believes people are selling Prime Minister Theresa May short in her capacity to get the deal done.
https://twitter.com/BBCr4today/status/1047376161301573632
Many have moved to criticise Foster for her choice of language, given that Northern Ireland's history is one of much bloodshed.
https://twitter.com/DearbhailDibs/status/1047438409948712960
https://twitter.com/SorchaEastwood/status/1047398894836092928
https://twitter.com/campbellclaret/status/1047379879447158784
