Fury at Tory MP’S call to ‘starve out’ Ireland

Brexit food shortages claim slammed

STORM Priti Patel A TORY’S claim that food shortage fears should have been manipulated to force Ireland to drop the Brexit backstop have been branded “despicable”.

Former Minister Priti Patel’s views were slammed over the suffering during the Great Famine – exacerbated by British trade policy – when up to a million people died.

The MP’S comments are linked to a leaked report yesterday that said there was a possibility food exports to

Ireland could be hit by a hard Brexit.

Ms Patel told The Times that No10 should use the potentially disastrous predictions as leverage against the EU.

She said: “This paper appears to show the government were well aware Ireland will face significant issues in a no-deal scenario.

“Why hasn’t this point been pressed home during negotiations? There is still time to go back to Brussels and get a better deal.” Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada slammed the remarks, adding: “Not only do these comments reek of desperation from the Tories but it further illustrates the absolute moral bankruptcy rampant in the Conservatives when it comes to Ireland.

“The reference she is making, given the genocide inflicted on this country by Britain during An Gorta Mor, is quite clear.

“The mask has well and truly slipped. We’re all used to hearing Theresa May’s contrived over-earnestness as she stresses how she doesn’t want to see a hard border but this is exactly what they think of Ireland.”

Government sources dismissed the reports of shortages as “propaganda” by hardline Brexiteers.

Former international development secretary Ms Patel was forced to resign last year after it emerged she was conducting meetings with Israeli groups outside of her brief. Ni Riada