Irish PM urges Sinn Fein to take seats in Westminster and back Theresa May’s Brexit plan to protect Northern Ireland’s economy
Sinn Fein have always refused to take seats in Westminster as the Republican party would then be forced to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen
LEO Varadkar has urged Sinn Fein to take up its seats in Westminster and back Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
The Irish premier told the Republican party its seven MPs should support the agreement to protect the Northern Irish economy.
His fiery exchanges with Sinn Fein chief Mary Lou McDonald are likely to infuriate Tory MPs who say Dublin has wielded too much power over Brexit.
Speaking in the Irish parliament yesterday, Mr Varadkar said: “We’re trying to avoid a scenario in which the UK including Northern Ireland crashes out of the EU.
“The best thing you can do to avoid that scenario occurring is for you to take up your seats in Westminster and to vote for that Withdrawal Agreement.”
Mr Varadkar has repeatedly drawn fury from Brexiteer MPs over his hardline stance on the backstop.
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One Tory grandee recently fumed the UK “cannot allow the Irish to treat us like this” while another said Dublin should “know their place”.
Sinn Fein has always refused to take up its seats in Westminster because doing so involves taking an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
And Ms McDonald furiously hit back at the Irish premier yesterday accusing him of “evading” his own responsibility to prepare for no deal.
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