Irish peace is threatened by hard Brexit says Campbell

● Adams in fresh call for Stormont talks ● 20th anniversary of Irish peace deal

Extremist Brexit “ideologues” are ready to sacrifice peace in Northern Ireland to secure the UK’S exit from the EU, according to former Downing Street communications chief Alistair Campbell.

He describes the prospect as “terrifying” and warned that the Irish political process remains fragile, in an article for The Scotsman.

The ruling institutions having fallen into abeyance over an ongoing dispute between leading Unionist and Republican parties. But former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has called both sides to re-enagage and find a “better future”, in a separate Scotsman piece published today.

A series of events are being held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which drew a line under years of conflict in Northern Ireland, marked by terrorist violence, and paved the way for peace and establishment of political power-sharing at Stormont.

Mr Campbell said this was one of the “greatest and most important” achievements of the last Labour Government.

“Now, as we mark the 20th anniversary of the Agreement, at a time the political process remainsfragileandtheinstitutions in abeyance, there is the

0 Tony Blair says current problems should not bring an end to devolved governance terrifying prospect that Brexit could turn back the clock and put at risk the peace and prosperity that all that hard work helped deliver,” he said. “Terrifying