Tories hit by Brexit chaos..
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IRELAND’S interests must be protected from British government instability after the shock resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis, the Labour leader claimed yesterday.
The departure of the UK Foreign Secretary and Brexit Minister leaves the Tory Prime Minister hanging by a thread.
Theresa May now faces the collapse of her government after Mr Johnson stepped down less than 24 hours after Mr Davis quit over her “dangerous” new plan for leaving the EU.
Mr Howlin said the Government must move to make sure our country’s interests are protected.
He added: “The risk for Ireland is that, once again, Theresa May’s attention will turn to fixing problems within her government and her slim majority in the House of Commons, rather than concentrating on negotiating her ambitious proposals with the other 27 EU governments.
“In the event the British government collapses following these resignations, Leo Varadkar should propose that the EU postpones the Article 50 withdrawal date to give time for an election and government formation in the UK.” Fianna Fail’s Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers said the two high-profile resignations were a cause for concern. She added: “Whilst the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson are matters for the UK government and the Conservative Party, it is nevertheless a cause of grave concern.
“Ireland’s interests remain to the fore and that our Government continues CALL Mr Howlin to press for an agreement on a legallybinding backstop and the protection in full of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Earlier, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said Mr Davis’ decision to quit will not throw the latest Brexit plan into disarray.
He added: “What we have been concerned about as a Government for the last while is the lack of official engagement with the Michel Barnier taskforce and the absence of any concrete proposals coming from the British government. This is an internal UK matter in so far as Cabinet members. Our focus is their substance of engagement with the EU and we remain hopeful that there is substantial engagement on the detailed issues.
“We are getting a white paper published in the coming days, the signals are that the direction of travel is significantly better.”
Sinn Fein’s Brexit spokesman David Cullinane said Tory party divisions must not scupper negotiations.
He added: “The British Prime Minister Theresa May must hold firm on seeking to make progress on Brexit negotiations.