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Politics

01st Oct 2019

US congressman Brendan Boyle describes UK proposed border plans as “shocking and outrageous”

Rudi Kinsella

hard border ireland

He has not minced his words here.

Appearing on RTÉ Morning Ireland on Tuesday morning, US congressman Brendan Boyle was extremely critical of the UK’s alleged proposed plans to essentially create a hard border.

News emerged on Monday night that the UK had suggested creating a string of customs posts along both sides of the Irish border as part of its effort to replace the backstop.

Boyle described the plans as “shocking and outrageous”, saying:

“That clearly would be a hard border. It is a complete reversal on the commitment from the previous British government, made last December.

“It’s hard to see how that could possibly be acceptable in any universe, to any government within the EU.

“And frankly, I think that Ireland’s friends on Capitol Hill would also be outraged by it.”

Boyle is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania’s 2nd congressional district serving in Congress since 2019.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has since denied these proposals, stating:

“That’s not what we’re proposing at all.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also criticised the potential move, saying that Boris Johnson should “give himself a shake”.

McDonald also described the proposals that were leaked as the worst kind of “political vandalism” in a brief interview.

You can listen to Tuesday’s episode of Morning Ireland in full here.

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