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Put it back to the People

The people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted overwhelmingly for their current relationship and cross border cooperation.  It was a historic political settlement made in good faith by the UK and Irish governments with the people of Northern Ireland.  That good faith is about to be broken.

Boris Johnson is proposing to tear up the agreement, either with his proposed 'deal' or with a no-deal Brexit.  He would do so regardless of warnings from across the political divide and from business and community leaders,  as well as the police and security services.

The Good Friday Agreement is in jeopardy.

There is a great deal of talk about 'honouring the referendum'.   But which referendum?  Do the people of Northern Ireland not matter?

Northern Ireland voted 71% for the Good Friday agreement, and they also voted to remain in the EU.  Their will and their future are now being sacrificed to keep Boris Johnson in Number 10.  Boris is willing to take Britain blindly into a no-deal Brexit without heed of the consequences, and particularly for the most impoverished families.

We are the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  Our parliament is supposed to represent all our nations.   The votes of one nation should not trump those of the others.  We need a new political settlement.

Our nations fought together for justice and freedom against Nazi Germany.  Our countries have a long history, and we have prospered together.  We wave our flags with pride, but also that pride isn't merely symbolic.  It is pride in our parliamentary system, our democratic values.

Given that the people of Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly for the peace process and the Good Friday agreement,  Johnson's proposed deal should be put back to the people.

Article 50 should be extended to allow any deal or 'no-deal' to be put back to the people.  Northern Ireland must not be sacrificed for the political ambitions of a bunch of politicians.









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