SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone
SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has accused former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers of going back on assurances she made before the EU referendum in relation to the return of a hard border in Ireland.
Before negotiations between the British Government and EU have even began, Ms Villiers haD advocated the introduction of a points based immigration system by 2020.
He said: “It is a sad reality that the EU referendum was won by a campaign that played on fears and peddled mistruths about immigration.
“Even after causing irreversible damage, the same people are using the same tactics to cause even more trouble in Ireland.
“Theresa Villiers spent the duration of the EU referendum campaign making flimsy assurances that there would be no return to a hard border in Ireland should we leave the EU.
“Two months later she is calling for the hardening of borders and restrictions on travel before negotiations have even begun. It is a grim echo of the weekly £370million for the NHS that evaporated the day after the referendum.
“She has even called on the Prime Minister to flout EU laws to which the British Government has already signed up to. It gives us some insight into the value the former Secretary of State places on trust and keeping promises.
“Theresa Villiers’ blind devotion to curtailing immigration reflects that of the entire Leave camp; never mind the economy, never mind international agreements or humanitarian obligations, just close the borders at all costs. Her comments show that she did not, and does not have our best interests at heart. She does not want to give any time for us to get the best arrangement possible. The SDLP will continue to fight for our place in Europe and against the introduction of a hard border in Ireland.”
