Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FOSTER: NEW BREXIT VOTE AN OWN GOAL
‘Democracy at risk’ if poll not respected
A CONFIRMATORY referendum on Brexit would place democracy at risk, Arlene Foster warned yesterday.
The DUP leader rejected calls from senior Labour politicians for any deal that might emerge from the party’s talks with the Tories to be put to a public vote.
Mrs Foster, whose 10 MPS prop up Theresa May’s minority government, also criticised the PM for lacking the vision of a strong UK post-brexit.
She was at Seaview football club in North Belfast, home of Crusaders, to launch the DUP’S European election manifesto urging voters to return Diane Dodds as MEP.
Mrs Foster said: “What people want to see is democracy being respected. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been respected and we have a remain parliament, therefore parliament has not been able to deliver on Brexit in the way it should have been delivered upon.
“We have a prime minister frankly who doesn’t have the vision for the United Kingdom post-brexit that we all want to see. We want to see a United Kingdom that is strong and has a close relationship with Europe.”
Rejecting the suggestion of a confirmatory vote, she added: “We have to deliver on the wishes of the people. Democracy is at risk here if we do not respect the wishes of the people in the referendum.
“That’s why we should defend the Union and deliver on Brexit.”
The DUP and Sinn Fein are expected to retain two of Northern Ireland’s three European seats. The third, held by retiring Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson, is less certain.
Mrs Foster said: “We will be urging people to seize this moment. I am opposed to a second referendum but a weak DUP vote will be interpreted in
London and Brussels as a vote for no Brexit.
“Don’t let Michel Barnier or Jean Claude Junker misrepresent your vote. It’s time to tell them again. It’s time to Vote Dodds 1 and defend the Union and deliver Brexit.”
Mrs Dodds accused the EU of treating the UK with contempt.
She said: “The health of our democracy is on trial. In 2016 people voted in good faith that their will would be implemented.
“They must be able to have faith that the biggest democratic decision in our lifetime will be respected.”