‘Europe will punish UK with hard Brexit’, Newry MLA warns | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

‘Europe will punish UK with hard Brexit’, Newry MLA warns

SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty MLA has warned that the European Union will punish the UK with a hard Brexit and that the border counties will feel the ramifications the most.

justin8McNulty was speaking following the protests held along the border corridor by Border Communities Against Brexit.

McNulty said, “The UK Government and in particular the Tory Party elite are sleepwalking this community into very uncertain political, economic and social times. I really fear that communities along the border, in places like South Armagh, are just collateral damage in the process that they really don’t care much about.

“This is a border community, and yet to those of us who live and work here, the reality is that the border is only a line on a map. We all regularly cross the border, in both directions, as part of everyday life. If those who advocated a Leave Vote actually understood the way of life here, they might reconsider their position,” he insisted.

“In recent days we have seen the impact of the hardnosed approach the Prime Minister is taking. We have seen the value of the pound fall to an all-time low. You have only to look at County Monaghan where the Mushroom industry has warned it’s on the verge of collapse.

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october-2016“We have heard harrowing stories of the potential impact of Brexit on our economy especially the agri-food industry. Another potential adverse impact of any new migration controls will be the availability of a skilled workforce.

“I am no advocate of mega-phone diplomacy, however as a community we must send a very loud and clear message to London, Dublin and Brussels that a hard, uncompromising approach to Brexit from any quarter will harm our people in every walk of life.

The local MLA added, “I want to commend those who organised the Border Communities Against Brexit event on Saturday past. They have taken the initiative, and we must all now intensify the scope and impetus of this campaign. We may be a small border community but Brussels and London must hear our loud and determined voice.”

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Posted by on Oct 18 2016. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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