MP’s warning of civil disobedience echoes bad old days, says Empey

A SINN Fein MP’s comments that there could be civil disobedience if there was a hard border after Brexit harks back to the language used by republicans 30 or 40 years ago, a former Ulster Unionist leader has said.

Lord Empey was speaking after Chris Hazzard suggested there would be an angry response if customs posts were built on the border.

Lord Empey said: “I was taken aback by this. I thought it sounded like the language of 30 or 40 years ago. I didn’t expect that in 2017, to be honest. I fully undering that people are unhappy about the result of the referendum. It’s important and I understand also that it’s very complicated, but I do feel the issue about the border is being blown out of all proportion.”

Meanwhile, the DUP’s Gregory Campbell called for Mr Hazzard to clarify his remarks.

“I know that Chris Hazzard is not saying there’s going to be a resumption of a military campaign, but distancing themselves from democratic discussions isn’t helping. So we need immediate clarification from Sinn Fein about their stated objectives,” he said.

“I have seen with my own eyes some of these border protests and they were very small in number. Sometimes there were less than 15 people. To interpret that as a massive uprising against the democratic wishes of the people of the UK is nonsensical.”

Sinn Fein said that campaign group Border Communities Against Brexit had won a European Citizens Award for opposing Brexit through peaceful protest.

“The imposition of an economic border, which will impact negatively on the tens of thousands of people who cross the border daily for work, for education and health care, for trade and family purposes, will inevitably become a focal point for further peaceful protest,” the party added.