Brexit minister ‘ran away’ from border community

“The fact we have yet again another Tory minister not providing an opportunity to meet and engage and listen to those concerns is absolutely unacceptable.

“Dominic Raab is like a thief in the night coming in and out, not providing opportunity, not just me personally but the people I represent, and the media should have the opportunity to be able to ask the hard questions.

“The fact the Tories run away from this every time is telling in itself.”

Mr Raab is also believed to have met with senior officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland at Newry Station just a few miles from the Irish border.

SDLP South Down MLA Sinead Bradley criticised Mr Raab’s lack of engagement with local elected representatives as “disgraceful”.

She said she received only a few hours’ notice that Mr Raab would be visiting Warrenpoint in her constituency.

Ms Bradley told the Press Association: “Brexit will affect rural communities and especially border communities the most.

“For the Brexit Secretary to visit and essentially adopt the attitude of ‘we will talk about you but not to you’ really just amplified the attitude that has been used by this Executive and the Tory government.

“It’s absolutely disgraceful and must be called out.”

Later, Mr Raab was due to visit Stormont to meet with local political parties.