Howlin: Corbyn can save us from Brexit
British labour considers second referendum call
LABOUR leader Brendan Howlin yesterday claimed Jeremy Corbyn could help the UK stay in the EU.
He praised his British counterpart for deciding to vote against Theresa May’s withdrawal deal in Parliament.
And the TD called for a second referendum to give voters a chance to think again about Brexit.
Mr Corbyn’s shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer has insisted the party could back another referendum that offered voters the chance to stay in the EU.
He said the party was “certainly not ruling out” such a move.
Speaking at the British Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Howlin said: “Other than the UK, no country will be as greatly affected by Brexit as Ireland. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to my British Labour colleagues about the reality of Brexit’s likely effects.
“For Ireland, there is no ‘good’ Brexit, hard or soft. Our approach to Brexit has always been very clearly based on damage limitation.
“The best outcome for Ireland would be one where there is a second referendum, in which the British people have the opportunity to democratically decide, based on new information, about the options for the UK’S relationship with the EU.
“Ireland would welcome an outcome where the British people decided to remain. I hope we can count on our friends in the British Labour Party to vocally champion Ireland’s interests, and to ensure the gains made by the Good Friday Agreement are not sacrificed in the final, fraught negotiations.” Separately, the British government yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland.
The notice states: “The CTA holds special importance to people in their daily lives, it goes to the heart of the relationship between these islands. “The UK is firmly committed to maintaining the arrangements after Brexit.
“The Irish Government has been clear also in its commitment.”
THE British Labour Party’s plans to shoot down Theresa May’s Brexit proposals in the UK parliament is good news for Ireland.
Brendan Howlin is right when he claims Jeremy Corbyn’s party would be more sympathetic to our cause than the Conservatives.
The level of ignorance from senior Tory politicians on Irish affairs and history is cause for alarm with former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson comparing the frontier between the Republic and the North to the border between Camden and Westminster in London.
Mr Howlin is also correct when he says that apart from Britain no country will be as greatly affected by Brexit as Ireland.
Therefore it is essential the UK gets a good deal or, better still, holds another referendum and stays in the EU.