UK must withdraw its declaration of economic warfare on Ireland and make peace with EU
IN THE debate on Brexit, English politicians and media regard the problems in relation to the Border as “the Irish Brexit problem”.
That ignores the fact that the Border was imposed by the imperial parliament in 1921.
It was imposed then despite the fact that in 1914 the same parliament had already passed an act giving self-rule to the whole island of Ireland with a parliament in Dublin.
Despite that, with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the more recent visit of the Queen, both of which drew a line under not alone the Border problems but also under nearly eight centuries of colonial rule, relations were never better.
Brexit, which effectively has torn up the Good Friday Agreement, has destroyed that benevolence.
The Good Friday Agreement is of immense historical and political significance. It is a major international agreement and as such is lodged with the United Nations.
The fact that it was regarded as a matter of no importance by the vast majority of Brexiteers is very damaging.
London media and politicians effectively telling us that the problems caused by Brexit are our problems does not help Anglo-Irish relations.
What needs to be done is that the Brexiteers withdraw the declaration of economic war that Brexit represents and go back to co-operating with nearly 30 European democracies – including this former colony.
This would not alone restore Anglo-Irish relations but would also help to prevent Europe going back to the attitudes and actions of the 1930s which Brexit represents. A Leavy Shielmartin Drive, Dublin 13