By Sammy McNally
In Hugh Orde’s timely statement about the UK leaving the EU, but not having robust border controls in Ireland – he succinctly suggests that;
“If you shut the front door, leaving the back door open would be stupid.”
Unionists like Sammy Wilson (DUP), who are cute enough to know that although the return of border controls is in Unionist (ideological) interest and would go down well with their constituents also know that they can’t be seen to argue that in public and still hope to be able to present themselves as responsible enough for government.
By way of rebuttal of Orde’s statement Samuel offered us;
“Taoiseach Enda Kenny this week has not been definitive in his view that there would have to be border controls – there could be, there might be, there’s a possibility, and we have had some more positive comments that the CTA would be kept,”
Which is a fair point to make – except it undermines Sammy’s own case by reminding everyone that we currently have no border controls and after Brexit, he and those in the Leave campaign, can’t guarantee there will still be no border controls – and they can’t agree between themselves about what is actually going to happen.
The TUV position is that there will be some “complexities” in border security post Brexit and we can well imagine that if Unionists had any say in it – perhaps in the event of a hung parliament with turmoil in the Tory party after Brexit – such complexities would undoubtedly become greater if the Tories needed Unionist votes.
Of course, the idea that Eastern Europeans, like the the Albanians picked up on the South coast of England (on 29/05/2016) would not avail of an open border between the 2 parts of Ireland is plainly a complete nonsense.
EU Nationals (which according to the Bexiteers may well soon include Albanians and Turks) will, on balance, prefer the train trip to Belfast from Rosslare (having entered the Republic of Ireland legally as EU Nationals) rather than the speed boat across the busy English channel – and of course they just may prefer to stroll across the border at their leisure before heading off to their preferred destination of London – rather than clinging to the underside of a lorry going through the Chunnel.
And as the oft quoted street canines of Northern Ireland and any student of Irish history will know – the Irish (canine) tail never gets to wag the British dog. After all why should 60 million plus (and growing rapidly) mainlanders concerned about their own livelyhoods worry about their neighbours over the water – it simply hasn’t happened up until now when those interests have been in conflict.
The British people are quite entitled to prefer not to have an unlimited number of EU immigrants in their country or the reduction of sovereignty which membership of the EU entails – indeed the British (mainlander) arguments for Brexit are strong and arguably stronger that those to stay in the EU.
Unfortunately for the plain (Nationalist) people of Northern Ireland(and Ireland as a whole), British National interest is yet again in conflict with Irish National interest and Brexit is a classic example of why we in Ireland(North and South) should be pushing the case for a United Ireland.
In Ireland(North and South) we had a referendum on the GFA which confirmed the right of the people of Ireland to self- determination and contains the following clause;
“affirm that whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, the power of the sovereign government with jurisdiction there shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions and shall be founded on the principles of full respect for, and equality of, civil, political, social and cultural rights, of freedom from discrimination for all citizens, and of parity of esteem and of just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities”
Quite clearly organising a referendum that has the potential to rupture the economic and social integration of Irish people on both sides of the border is completely at odds with the principle outlined above that “just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities” and is, to use an infamous quote from earlier days, ‘bordering on the reckless’.
The ‘sovereign government’ of the UK has embarked on a referendum process which is welcomed by Unionists and Republican dissidents alike, who are being offered the prospect of rolling back the progress that has been made since the GFA with the border arrangements being thrown into turmoil and the prospect of the restriction of goods and people across the border and the inevitable requirement of security arrangements to enforce control. It is entirely reasonable to expect some deterioration in the security situation, as suggested by Hugh Orde and entirely reasonable to suggest that the current SOS for Northern Ireland, Ms Villiers, should not have retained her job as a campaigner for Brexit.
Demographics alone may not bring about a United Ireland, but this Brexit referendum, which is a clear breach of the spirit and arguably the letter of the GFA , should convince anyone from a Nationalist background( who will at some point in this century be in a majority in Northern Ireland) of the clear advantages of Unification of their country.
"We in coming days may be" 
Good post.
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I’ve had similar thoughts myself, albeit along the lines of England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity. I’ve no feel for the campaign over yonder, so I can only go by the polls and the press consensus which still favours the Remain camp (the three recent polls leaning to the Leave camp might be outliers/flukes). The Undecideds seem to be the ones who will swing it one way or another.
Personally I think Brexit would be good in the strategic long term for this island nation, though short term the pain might be fairly hefty, and not just socially or politically. If the British reimpose a real border between Six and Twenty-Six, the “Dissidents” will have eventually have their Duke Street or Burntollet Bridge. Sure as day follows night.
The only hope before that happens is that enough unionists of the APNI/NI21/Green variety can be persuaded that EU citizenship, free travel, etc. is worth the risk of a Yes in a reunification vote. If enough students, businesspeople and farmers make the leap at the ballot box, albeit still a small percentage of overall unionist numbers, it might swing a Unity referendum.
Though, be warned, repartition, is the more likely outcome of the moral and democratic cowardice that characterises Dublin and London’s dealings with unionist dissent.
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re. “If the British reimpose a real border between Six and Twenty-Six, the “Dissidents” will have eventually have their Duke Street or Burntollet Bridge. Sure as day follows night.”
Yes, “Dont mention the next war”. Brexit will pose some threat to the ‘peace’ – quite how sizeable is debatable – but it is a risk and surely a considerable boost to those who prefer war.
The lack of debate in Britain of the implications for Ireland clearly illustrates that our strategic interest lies in unity. Brexit represents a serious strengthening of partition.
The lack of debate in the South is strange though – there must be a significant risk that Southern border towns will be popular locations – depending on the extent of border posts – for those wishing and perhaps (temporarily) prevented from entering the UK.
The Irish government should be arguing with the British, hat in the event of Brexit that the border checks need to be shifted to mainland.
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Sammy, im seriously worried about Brexit. i cant see any benefits to it at all. to hell with ‘short term pain, long term gain’, as the previous poster said. Its ridulous to thing any good can come from brexit. whats wrong with the status-quo for now?
I live in the South (2 mile from border) but work in the North everyday. Like many i suppose, i never see a border or never distinquish etc. My own road was closed during the troubles – but i was only a kid so it didnt effect me much..
I have a mortgage, savings, family both sides, etc. Are you seriously thinking brexit will be a serious strengthening partition? do they want another war ?.
The Southern government needs to start talking. By god, im not stopping to show a passport everyday.
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Oriel there won’t be passport controls or the like. I doubt even if there will be customs checks. Remember a high level of cooperation is possible and the norm for eu and neighbours like Norway and Switzerland.
But I think the south should leave the EU because immigration is bad for traditional irish values.
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According to the Belfast Telegraph 70% of Unionists want out of the EU
Over 90% of Nationalists want to remain in the EU
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Predictable as ever.
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Oriel27,
Dont want to sound too alarmist but it is difficult to see Brexit other than reinforcing partition with any physical strengthening of the border a real godsend for the Dissidents and difficult for those arguing for peace in mainstream republicanism to hold the line.
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thanks Sammy, but i assure you it will not be just the Dissidents who will be alarmed (who i think that card is seriously overplayed, they dont exist as a force, only a few single nutters…) , it will be everyone, of every politic persuasion who will be out enforce to oppose such unnatural measures. I can remember my own road at home when i was a kid with craters in it, every now and then they were filled in. The brits had a horrid time trying to keep them open.
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The Blather Region has similar thoughts on Brexit and how it might effect things in the north-east.
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We can see how uneven and unequal the union really is.
The union is supposedly comprised of 4 ‘nations’ with England as the founder member while the rest are merely associates. Our wishes never considered. Look at English votes for English laws. They get a say in our affairs while we will get none in theirs.
A combined stay vote however from the regions would interesting either way if it is a close run thing or not. We vote one way England another.
The Scots then for example may have no need of a rerun of the Indy referendum.
They have other options like a simple parliamentary vote or a unilateral declaration.
What would be more evident a declaration for Scotland than a vote stay.
Turning attention locally it is extremely funny too that some unionists are using slogans such as taking our country back
and arguing to go it alone and that economically we would make it. And adding to this a unionist MP telling the tories they have no mandate here!
Haven’t we been saying that stuff for years? But it is not how you say it but who says it.
Vote Stay and the little fleggers, tories and otherwise would be so utterly dejected their reaction would be sheer entertainment to watch to say the least.
Vote Leave and Britain goes into splendid isolation.
Either way it is for them a Pyrrhic victory.
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Declan Kearney has made it clear that Sinn Féin supports a “remain” vote. This is because Sinn Féin believes that there are many benefits to EU membership not least the FDI.
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Trouble with Referendums is that everyone uses them to answer the question they want to answer rather than the one on the ballot paper.
That’s the problem in England where most small businessmen see the EU’s regulation as costly and life threatening. And in some cases they are right.
I don’t really ‘get’ how the two countries growing further apart will facilitate unification. The chief block heretofore was currency, living in two rival custom zones only pushes it further from the Overton Window.
As for dissident challenge getting worse, there’s always that possibility. The Provisionals long war licensed the ‘always on’ revolution which means the state acclimates to ‘acceptable levels of violence, and that revolutionary effort has much less social/political effect than the 69-94 campaign.
Without some means/reason to popularise the likes of repartition for instance I’m not clear how such a radical scenario comes into being.
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Interesting points. Sinn Féin indeed believe that its best to vote REMAIN. In a sign of how much importance Sinn Féin attach to this, the National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA has been tasked with heading up Sinn Féin’s remain campaign.
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re. “I don’t really ‘get’ how the two countries growing further apart will facilitate unification. ”
Mick,
What is in Britain’s best interest is clearly not always in Ireland’s best interest and Brexit is an example of that as it will reinforce partition by further dividing the island and arguably destabilising the ‘peace’.
At junctures like this where British and Irish interest clash the case for a United Ireland becomes stronger as Brexit causes a fracturing of the social and economic integration that has taken place within the EU post GFA – and perhaps a deterioration in political relationships between the Republic and the UK with the tensions over the movement of people trying to gain (illegal) entry to Britain. .
The fact that Brexit has such serious ramifications for Northern Ireland but that is such a minor consideration for mainland Britons illustrates the disadvantage of having part of your own country (as we Nationalists see it) controlled from London – thereby clearly illustrating the strength of the case for a United Ireland.
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Sammy as Catholics are set to be a majority in Dec 2016 and a voting majority in 2022 the issue will not be pertinent for very long.
That said Sinn Féin are urging a remain vote and I think all Catholics should vote REMAIN in the upcoming referendum.
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And this is a surprise? The work of republicans committed to peaceful means is try to build the circumstances in which unification is more rather than less likely. In that regard, Brexit is an unmitigated ballocks.
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Mick,
Certainly it is a ‘ballocks’ for Ireland (North and South) but not necessarily for Britain (but that’s a separate argument). illustrating why we are better off running our own country’s (North’s and as well as South’s) affairs.
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I agree with some of that, Mick. Though discomfiting the business classes to the benefit of the employee classes is one of the boons of EU membership. I doubt that Ireland’s regulations and laws would be so worker-orientated without the obligations the EU placed upon us. Look at at the norm in Irish employment law up to the 1980s. Likewise business-related environmental measures. Both have changed the country’s culture in those specific areas. At this very moment in time my IT company is turning some of the green space on its property into a half-acre wildlife meadow with a bee-hive to encourage native flora and fauna. This stems directly from revised ISO and EU directives on environmental management. The UK is not too dissimilar.
The reimposition of a hard border, etc. would cause huge resentment north and south, calling the Belfast Agreement into question. Especially if the ECHR and COE membership was then in doubt as well. One would hope that such sentiment would be reflected in future elections or plebiscites in the Six and Twenty-Six. That is where the “garden centre unionist” vote might come in to play, out of their own self-interests.
In the 1970s to ’90s the British Army could regularly crater border roads, while Monaghan or Donegal county councils reopened them a few weeks later. Most people simply never witnessed that, especially internationally. All reporting of the north came through establishment media, Irish and British, bar badly printed party newspapers, the annual “resistance” calendar and the odd grainy VHS tape played in clubs and pubs before the collection tin went around. Now you would have Vines of UK soldiers fighting local people, British bulldozers on Irish country roads live-streamed to the internet. The 21st century state would be unable to acclimatise to that. Just look at what the internet has achieved in the last decade to change global perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The BDS movement was born via the use of technology. Britain has more to loose in that struggle than (smart) Irish republicans.
An Irish Sea border as the alternative would also have benefits in terms of emphasising the two islands – two nations argument.
Of course, I’m simplifying all this for the sake of brevity.
My own own hunch, following a positive outcome in a reunification referendum, would be a scenario of unionist leaders of all parties and some UK sympathisers demanding repartition, especially if the percentages were narrow.
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I’m sceptical mostly because the Leave campaign is deliberately over promising on the change that’s possible/desirable.
If they want to stay in the single market, they’ll have to suck up whatever the EU sets down for them.
As for the repeal of the ECHR, I’m with former Tory AG, Dom Greive: it’s mostly ballocks. The problem with the Human Rights Act is that it’s almost impossible to withdraw rights already freely given. The so called Bill of Rights will not fly if it tries to water down the ECHR.
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Sammy McNally
You say “Demographics alone may not bring about a United Ireland” and then
Paddy Reilly has calculated that Catholics will emerge as the majority in December of this year (2016) and Bangordub has calculated that leads to a voting majority 2022. So even if there is Brexit, there will be a UI soon and so NI will not be outwith the EU for very long.
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Sammy there has been so much immigration in Dublin that it is hard to recognise it . Traditional irish values. And catholic values, are in danger. Ireland should now leave the EU too. This would allow nationalists greater control over our own country.
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Catholic voter,
The difference between Britain leaving and Ireland leaving is that whilst Britain may be able to afford the economic cost – Ireland probably would not.
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The cost to our values of staying in is unaffordable.
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Nonsense. The Catholic state for a Catholic people has had its day and it’s not coming back. Largely thanks to its own doing. Ireland has been one of the countries in Europe at the forefront of secularization, If anything it’s the Eastern European and more recent joiners to the EU who are more enthusiastic on religion.
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The EU has made it hard to promote and maintain traditional irish values and traditional catholic values. Since the joining of the EU we have experienced a loss to out cultural position and a massive inflow of US capital and labour from many different countries overwhelming local irish firms and workers. A loss of control. We need to think about leaving too. And more so if there is brexit
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Secularization in Ireland is here to stay, and the sooner Churches of all shades understand that the better. There is no special place for any one church in a Republic other wise it isn’t a proper Republic. You only have to look at the Gay Marriage vote to get an understanding of how many people outside middle Ireland listen to the church.
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What is most frustrating about the debate is that each (understandably of course) side will not discuss the topics that they are weakest on or seek to deny any negatives that there own case entails.
The Remain side refuse to acknowledge the importance of immigration – and that follows years of the left in Britain shouting ;racist’ at anyone who dared raised the topic.
And the Leave side refuse to acknowledge the importance of the single market and the (at least) short term damage to the economy.
Other issues like loss of sovereignty in the EU is also simply denied by the Remain camp as is (in Northern Ireland) the inevitably of proper controls between North and South being denied by the leavers.
The lack of proper debate is simply replaced by each side alleging scare mongering as a way of deflecting negative points about their positions.
What is amusing about Northern Ireland, is that we all knew before any polling was done that Unionists would want to leave and Nationalists would want to stay and their positions would reflect *like most political attitudes ) how the issue would play with the constitutional question.
You can just imagine the euphoria in the DUP HQ if there is a vote to leave as they prepare to go to Westminster to warn the British people of the dangers of the back door being left open – and Sammy Wilson stands up and says(as he tries to suppress a smile) that the boul Hugh Orde did have a point after all.
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Sinn Féin deserves a lot of credit for not taking an anti-immigration standpoint throughout recent times, emphasizing that all immigrants to our shores are welcome and make a contribution whether that is in Dungannon or Dalkey.
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That is why they should be condemned. Immigration is a policy that needs controlled.
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If anyone has doubts about voting to stay or leave the EU then they just have to look at the people and organisations that are pleading for you to remain. The IMF,ECB,Goldman Sachs,JP Morgan,Mark carney,Cameron alongside fraud Geldof,enda Kenny etc. Are we seriously being asked to believe these groups and individuals have our best interests at heart?
The unionists are doing a better job at uniting Irish people than republicans are as I am with them, but for different reasons, in voting out. For the life of me I cannot understand why SF are urging remain other than toeing the free state narrative for purely populist reasons? Or perhaps it’s simply EU funding jobs for the boys that some have benefitted from thanks to the lucrative ‘peace process’?
Btw, I see Osbourne has sought the assistance of Jamie Dimon to help with the remain campaign. An unscrupulous character if there ever was one. The banksters must fear they will lose a few interest if the EU is disrupted, all the more reason to vote to leave this fraud.
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I agree. I think that the south should leave too . Small countries like ireland have no say I this EU. It’s the foreign profit interest that gains from it.
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Wolf Tone,
Well you have the DUP, UKIP, The Orange order and all the Disser groups on the other side.
I don’t think the argument should be based on either side on who supports it. The unsavouries are in both camps.
Catholic Votes,
As pointed out above – I think the days of ‘Catholic’ Ireland influencing events are behind us – thanks be to feck.
In relation to ‘foreign profit’ – we live in a Western style democracy – which the vast number of people support – and American Multi Nationals provide jobs and money to our economy – every party including SF and the SDLP and with the exception of small left wing groups like PBP think this is a good and healthy situation.
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With all due respect, we live in an illusion of democracy. How anyone thinks the EU is democratic is beyond me.
Just because the unionists,orange order,ukip and dissos support a brexit doesn’t automatically mean they are wrong. They are wrong on many things but they arnt wrong on other things eg abortion on demand isn’t welcomed by everybody but does that make one bigoted?
The western style democracy we live in isn’t endorsed by the vast majority of the people; they’ve no choice simple as that. Any attempt to change the status quo is met by financial terrorism and even terrorism. Just ask Greece.
Multinationals bringing employment is all fair and good but I would hazard a guess and say if all the eurozone were allowed to have the same corporation tax as the free state Edna Kenny would soon change his tune.
Btw, it’s been reported that Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t been as vocal about the remain campaign as some would like. The hint is he really doesn’t want to be in it either but for political reasons(votes) he’s playing along.
One more footnote, Peter Mandelson, the ‘dark lord’, is now backing remain campaign. Seriously? This dodgy character should be allowed to leave his house never mind traipse around Europe.
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Unfortunately the EU and its capitalist supporters is the vwhicle of globalisation that is pulling apart our social fabric and our traditional values and exploiting workers.
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Catholic voter,
in the 20th century we tried ‘traditional values’ and as abuse enquiries and covers ups showed plus church interference with the state – that is no way to run a country and as ryan2489 points out above secularisation is here to stay and will only get stronger.
Wolf Tone,
re. “The western style democracy we live in isn’t endorsed by the vast majority of the people; they’ve no choice simple as that. ”
Western Democracy simply incorporated the good practical bits of socialism and rejected the bad impractical bits – there is no conspiracy – just a failure of Socialist ideology to seriously challenge Western Democracy because people dont like it – and as soon as you start telling people what to think – you invite comparison with the socialist disasters of the 20th century and end up being labelled a Trot and or a Stalinist.
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‘as soon as you start telling people what to think’……….isn’t that what the EU does?
I am all for secularism but in case you havnt noticed the EU is all for it except Muslims. They pay lip service to secularism but the reality is they care little and endeavour to stoke up anti Muslim feelings. You don’t have to be in the EU to champion secularism.
The EU initiatially was a sound idea but it has evolved into a cabal. It was claimed the EU would prevent wars. It should’ve been also explained that it would stop wars between European nations but not other countries outside the EU. The anti Muslim,anti Russian sentiment isn’t the way to go but that seems to be the narrative directed by Brussels.
Btw we can safely assume a lot of Europeans abhor the slaughter of Palestinians by Israelis terror forces and yet the EU chooses to ignore and not take a stance in urging the Israelis to cease their terror. In fact they seem intent to lend credibility to this terror state.
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re. “The EU initiatially was a sound idea but it has evolved into a cabal. It was claimed the EU would prevent wars.
As I said above “indeed the British (mainlander) arguments for Brexit are strong and arguably stronger that those to stay in the EU”.
But Ireland is not the 5th richest country in the world and just returning from self-imposed near bankruptcy and therefore the Republic cant afford to vote to leave. That may change or the EU may ‘fail’ at some point – but now is clearly not a good time to leave.
The key point for me is that the UK will do what is best for the UK as whole – which is fair enough- but that means that Northern Ireland is way down the order of importance and rarely even mentioned in the debate – the British are unconcerned or in denial about the destabilising impact of Brexit not just in terms of economics but also in terms of ‘peace’ in Northern Ireland – and thereby also undermining the GFA which they are signed up to.
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Sammy I think those who are catholic and brlieve in catholic values should consider whether international capitalism and globalisation is really the way to go.
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They already have. Remember 2007 and the Celtic Tiger?
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What are these “traditional values”? What exactly are we talking about?
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Mick,
When you ask
‘And this is a surprise? ‘ above – are you referring to British putting their interests first?
Do you accept that whilst Brexit reinforces partition the referendum itself and the (understandable) placing of British (mainland) interests before those of Northern Ireland reinforces the argument for a United Ireland?
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Sinn Féin strongly supports staying in the EU. A sign of the importance attached to this is that they have asked the National Chairperson, Declan Kearney, to head up the remain campaign. There are many advantages of EU membership not least access to the market and FDI. I would expect most Catholics to turn out for a remain stance on polling day.
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I watched a number of tv debates from the 1975 referendum last night on the BBC Parliament channel. I dont think anyone has matched the passion of Tony Benn or Peter Shore on the exit side this time. I noticed Jeremy Thorpe could not resist pointing out that the out campaign had united the offical and provisional IRA. It also brought together the Communist Party and the National Front
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Sammy McNally
Sinn Féin have put a lot of energy into playing its part in the remain campaign. To be fair I think Sinn Féin is not getting the credit it deserves for this.
Declan Kearney made the important point that while the European Union is far from perfect it can be changed and the only way to address that and change it is from within. Sinn Féin’s policy towards the European Union is that of engagement as a critical friend.
Declan Kearney – the SF National Chair – has correctly pointed out that Brexit would be bad for Ireland, bad for business and trade, bad for our farmers and bad for human rights and workers’ rights.
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How can you changed EU decision making when large sections of it are unelected? Have Europeans been able to register their views on anything in the past 15 or more years. It operates like a monarchy with the illusion of democratic inclusion. I really like the concept of the eu but this one is broken.
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All EU commissioners are appointed by democratically elected member states.
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Sinn Féin has put a larger degree of work into the European Parliament than other parties.
SF have very good MEPs. From Martina Anderson to Lynn Boylan. These MEPs are elected democratically and participate fully in votes for the interest of SF voters.
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Probably worth pointing out that more Catholics will come if we are in the EU.
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Might be helpful especially if they are strong catholics.
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Has anyone mentioned that the Spanish plan to take back Gibraltar the day after the UK leave the EU.
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There are an estimated 23,000 baptised Catholics in Gibraltar, making up 86 percent of the population. But they say the population of Gibraltar is more British than the British themselves.
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That’s strange hobo.
That’s a similar percent catholic to west Belfast.
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On the contrary, I would say the the Catholic Church has never been a friend to Irish nationalists or Republicans, individuals within it have, but as a body, It has not
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The church is a friend to everyone and should not take sides politically. However individual Catholics support Sinn Féin because of its policies which place emphasis on caring about the poorest and most marginalised.
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Sinn fein has not been supportive of the church and so should not expect favours from devout catholics.
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To be totally fair to Sinn Fein they are a principled republican party and the fact their policy contrasts sharply with the views of the Catholic church speaks volumes. I actually think if you had to align them to a church they’d probably be closest to Presbyterian, based on some of their recent murmurings on abortion (NOT the ‘free’ variety).
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Sdlp seems better on catholic values than sf but both seem to have moved away from catholic values.
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Sinn Fein are an extremely principled party, in fact if you do not like their principles don’t worry – they have plenty more, which one would you like?
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Blair and Major not far off with their analysis – expect more of the same as this is a serious weakness in the Leave story.
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I think most catholics will vote stay because it makes the border go away. But the EU is a capitalist club and so they will feel ambivalent.
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It is galling of the leave campaign to complain of Project Fear all the while some of them were complicit in its use against the Scots. Now to have the nerve and cheek to murmur when it is deployed against them is irony at its best.
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Should the UK remain a member of the EU or leave the EU?
Weighted for turnout
Now April
Remain 45 per cent 49 per cent
Leave 55 per cent 51 per cent
Headline Figure (not weighted for turnout)
Now April
Remain 47 per cent 50 per cent
Leave 53 per cent 50 per cent
What people think the result will be (average prediction)
Remain 52 per cent
Leave 48 per cent
How much of a risk do you think leaving the EU would pose?
A great deal of risk 26 per cent
Some risk 55 per cent
No risk at all 19 per cent
When considering how to vote, the economy is a bigger issue than immigration
Agree 52 per cent
Disagree 37 per cent
Don’t know 11 per cent
Whether we decide to leave the EU or to remain, the result won’t have much impact on my daily life
Agree 40 per cent
Disagree 44 per cent
Don’t know 17 per cent
I feel the campaign so far has been too negative
Agree 69 per cent
Disagree 15 per cent
Don’t know 15 per cent
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http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/uk_575fe524e4b07701cbdbc79c
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Still not sure how to vote try this
https://ig.ft.com/sites/how-should-i-vote-in-the-eu-referendum/
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Very few moral/value issues in that questionnaire.
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http://m.newsletter.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-news/new-poll-catholic-voters-in-northern-ireland-moving-from-remain-to-leave-1-7435854
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-36564182
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-36616955
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Sounds promising…
https://www.thedetail.tv/articles/brexit-set-to-face-legal-challenge-in-northern-ireland
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