Write a commentFollowing last nights shock vote for the UK to leave the European Union local MLA Conor Murphy has said that England’s decision to leave the European Union means that a referendum on a United Ireland is now vital.
The Newry and Armagh electorate voted to stay in the EU along with the majority of people in the province but the leave side UK wide won out with 52%.
Figures were 31963 wanting to stay versus 18659 leaving. With a turnout of 63.7% almost 63% of our electorate wanted to stay with just over 37% wanting to leave.
Commenting on the provinces count the MLA said “56% of the electorate in the north have made clear their wish to remain within the EU, yet English votes have overturned their democratic will,
“The British Government has no mandate to drag the north of Ireland out of the EU. It has no mandate to re-erect border controls between north and south and it has no mandate to represent the views of the north in any future negotiations with the EU
“It is unacceptable that a majority in England and Wales can alter the constitutional status of the North against the wishes of the people there.
“Irish interests are being actively and gravely damaged by the decisions taken in England and as a result the conditions now exist for a referendum on Irish Unity.
“A referendum on a United Ireland is now a democratic imperative and it is incumbent that the Irish Government and all Irish nationalist parties support this demand. To do anything less would be to betray the best interests of the Irish people
“Sinn Féin has been clear that Ireland’s role, both North and South, is to seek progressive change in Europe from within the EU.
“Whilst recognising the democratic deficit at the heart of Europe, and the neo-liberal tendencies within the bloc, our approach is to critically engage with the EU.
“There is no doubt that Brexit will cause immense difficulties across Ireland, but we must be prepared to deal with them to through unity, resolve and determination."
