Northern Ireland is free to hold a referendum to split from the UK

[Denver]

A leaked letter addressed to David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, suggests the UK government would back a vote allowing Northern Ireland to leave the UK.

Should the nation reunify with the Republic of Ireland, it would be able to join to European Union, the letter shows.

Because the Republic is already a member of the bloc, access would be automatic – unlike Scotland.

In the letter, seen by The Times, Mr Davis wrote: “If a majority of the people of Northern Ireland were ever to vote to become part of a united Ireland the UK Government will honour its commitment to enable that to happen.”

He added: “In that event, Northern Ireland would be in a position of becoming part of an existing EU member state, rather than seeking to join the EU as a new independent state.”

Under the Good Friday Agreement, the UK government is legally obliged to offer a referendum if public polls support it.

“If a majority of the people of Northern Ireland were ever to vote to become part of a united Ireland the UK Government will honour its commitment to enable that to happen.”
David Davis
It comes after the leader of Sinn Fein called for a referendum on leaving the UK “as soon as possible”.

Michelle O’Neill said Brexit would be a “disaster” for the province and rejoining the Republic would be one way of avoiding the negative effects.

Meanwhile, the Northern Irish power sharing agreement between unionists and republicans broke down on Monday.

The possibility of home rule – which would see Northern Ireland governed from Westminster – is now on the table.

www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/600847/northern-ireland-independence-referendum-to-leave-UK

[MTVN]

Well yeah that has always been the case since the Troubles ended, right now though there is no settled government in Northern Ireland, the largest party is still the DUP and there is little public will for a referendum so it is highly unlikely that there will be one anytime soon

[Jason.]

The Troubles 2.0 incoming?

[Marsh.]

The Scots AND the Irish leaving the forum?

[UserSince2005]

We wouldnt be so lucky

[reece(:]

Poor Wales

[Northern Monkey]

I bet Sturgeon is pissed.

[the truth]

Poor Wales

Wales doesnt seem interested in any referendum....Its too small economically and too inextricably linked with England and vice versa...Frankly that seems sensible...Does Wales want a new currency? nope. It voted against the EU....Does it want its own army? Nope...The welsh regiments are showered in glory for centuries...

The English empire which became the british empire , started with a merger with Wales and the magna carta, around 900 years ago and after taking over the globe with the ships built in ireland and scotland with welsh copper bottoms, welsh cannonballs and welsh coal to fire them up... now after our worldly adventures its back to where we started returning to these unlikely 2 bedfellows...The dear old english and the welsh:joker: I think it can be a massive success again. 55 million strong, same laws and in control of our own destiny....Teresa May will need a whole new trade and industrial strategy as the opportunities there could be phenomenal.

[joeysteele]

I'd love to see a re-unified Ireland, the Dup are losing ground in Northern Ireland and moreso with the new young voters of the future.

Wales I feel sorry for, probably a good number in England likely sees Wales as a shire of England anyway.
If Wales is happy with that, I feel sorry for Wales but that's their choice.

Just as N.Ireland and Scotland should without any dictation from English MPs at Westminster, be able to decide their futures.

[Wizard.]

Us to get Big Brother Ireland and Big Brother Scotland all at once?

[Tregard]

Us to get Big Brother Ireland and Big Brother Scotland all at once?

Big Brother Celtic Federation!

I reckon this is going to happen at some point, but not in the near future. Our government is in complete tatters because the DUP and Sinn Fein can't compromise, and we're not likely to forsee a snap election again.

[Niamh.]

I'm not sure that NI would vote to reunite with us tbh, you're going to have the people really for it and people really against it and then those who are not sure probably will vote to stay with the UK I think out of fear of such a massive change. I would love if they did though

[Toy Soldier]

Big Brother Celtic Federation!

Fully subtitled in England :hehe:

[Toy Soldier]

I'm not sure that NI would vote to reunite with us tbh, you're going to have the people really for it and people really against it and then those who are not sure probably will vote to stay with the UK I think out of fear of such a massive change. I would love if they did though

I'm surprised London isn't actively encouraging it. Having a land border with an EU country is problematic for the post-Brexit rUK.

Assuming Scotland doesn't get FREEDUM of course, as then there'll be a nice big land border anyway. All of the EU migrants will fly to Edinburgh and then POUR over the border into precious English towns, raping and pillaging as they go :worry:.

[Niamh.]

I'm surprised London isn't actively encouraging it. Having a land border with an EU country is problematic for the post-Brexit rUK.

Assuming Scotland doesn't get FREEDUM of course, as then there'll be a nice big land border anyway. All of the EU migrants will fly to Edinburgh and then POUR over the border into precious English towns, raping and pillaging as they go :worry:.

Yeah good point but they don't seem to be trashing the idea like they are with Scotland so that's probably encouraging it in their own way :laugh:

It would certainly be an interesting era for everyone if that happened though

[MTVN]

Funny enough the first question at PMQs today actually asked for assurance that the government would support a campaign for NI to stay in the UK if there was ever a referendum

[Kizzy]

Funny enough the first question at PMQs today actually asked for assurance that the government would support a campaign for NI to stay in the UK if there was ever a referendum

Reformation #2 :joker:

[Niamh.]

Funny enough the first question at PMQs today actually asked for assurance that the government would support a campaign for NI to stay in the UK if there was ever a referendum

Oh really and what was the answer/who asked it?

[Toy Soldier]

One step closer to the United Kingdom of Scotland and Ireland tbh. Capital city Edinburgh, of course.

[Niamh.]

One step closer to the United Kingdom of Scotland and Ireland tbh. Capital city Edinburgh, of course.

Capital City Cork for fairness sake :hee:

[Denver]

Yeah good point but they don't seem to be trashing the idea like they are with Scotland so that's probably encouraging it in their own way :laugh:

It would certainly be an interesting era for everyone if that happened though

N Ireland have yet to have a referendum whole Scotland just had one that is the reason why Scotland can't have one and N Ireland can

[MTVN]

Oh really and what was the answer/who asked it?

A Northern Irish Unionist MP asked it, the PM just said the government will always support NI staying in the UK and would never be neutral on that, guess she could never say otherwise though

[Niamh.]

N Ireland have yet to have a referendum whole Scotland just had one that is the reason why Scotland can't have one and N Ireland can

Oh I didn't realise you were the boss of who can have referendums :hehe:

A Northern Irish Unionist MP asked it, the PM just said the government will always support NI staying in the UK and would never be neutral on that, guess she could never say otherwise though

Thanks Matt. Yeah, of course she's going to have to say that really, imagine if she said nah we went you lot out :laugh:

[Northern Monkey]

I think the government should support NI and Scotland in whatever they want to do.However i think they should do it after brexit is done with.There's enough **** going on right now.

[Denver]

Oh I didn't realise you were the boss of who can have referendums :hehe::

Came from the PM herself she will not allow another Scottish referendum

[Toy Soldier]

I think the government should support NI and Scotland in whatever they want to do.However i think they should do it after brexit is done with.There's enough **** going on right now.

"Hush now, Mummy is busy doing important grown up things, we'll talk about this later".

:think:

[Denver]

Poor Wales

Wales a pro Brexit so they will stick with England

[Toy Soldier]

Wales a pro Brexit so they will stick with England

Poor Wales.

[Northern Monkey]

"Hush now, Mummy is busy doing important grown up things, we'll talk about this later".

:think:

Well the PM is going to have to take a position on independence and she will undoubtedly be against it.She's not going to want to start debating all that and putting some kind of 'stronger together' campaign together while she's trying to negotiate with Europe at the same time.Imagine trying to deal with 3 referendums at once.It would be insane.

[Kizzy]

Well the PM is going to have to take a position on independence and she will undoubtedly be against it.She's not going to want to start debating all that and putting some kind of 'stronger together' campaign together while she's trying to negotiate with Europe at the same time.Imagine trying to deal with 3 referendums at once.It would be insane.

What did she expect?... For Scotlands ministers who initially wanted independence to say 'oh your busy? nay bother then'
May wants independence from Europe she can have it, she can have it from our own integrated EU unions too!

All this making the rules up as she goes along is going to bite her in the earse!

[Niamh.]

Well the PM is going to have to take a position on independence and she will undoubtedly be against it.She's not going to want to start debating all that and putting some kind of 'stronger together' campaign together while she's trying to negotiate with Europe at the same time.Imagine trying to deal with 3 referendums at once.It would be insane.

A stronger together campaign while implementing the stronger apart one :laugh:

[Northern Monkey]

A stronger together campaign while implementing the stronger apart one :laugh::joker: