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Should the UK have remained in the EU? Should the UK have remained in the EU?
Yes, the UK should have remained in the EU Yes, the UK should have remained in the EU
No, the UK should have left the EU No, the UK should have left the EU
We need more international cooperation, not less We need more international cooperation, not less
Interdependence removes the scope for war Interdependence removes the scope for war
We don't need tensions between The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland We don't need tensions between The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
The UK should have left the EU for economic reasons The UK should have left the EU for economic reasons
The UK strengthened its borders by leaving the EU The UK strengthened its borders by leaving the EU
The UK does not need to worry about Ireland when it comes to Brexit The UK does not need to worry about Ireland when it comes to Brexit
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Should the UK have remained in the EU?
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No, the UK should have left the EU

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The UK does not need to worry about Ireland when it comes to Brexit

The UK's relationship with Ireland is irrelevant when it comes to Brexit. Ireland relies on the UK, and the British government should not worry about Ireland's EU status.
Gerard Batten Michael Gove
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Context

There is a long history of violence at the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. However, leaving the EU does not mean that the violence will return. Many proposals, including a checkpoint known as the backstop, negate public fears of an Irish border dispute.

The Argument

Ireland relies on the United Kingdom for its existence.[1] The potential trade debacle, which some people in the UK and the EU fear, is overblown. Implementing a backstop in the British seas or in Kent solves that issue.[2] Therefore, there is no need to bring back the border checkpoints that existed until the Good Friday Agreement. Additionally, the French representatives for the EU must be pragmatic regarding border crossings for trade. Brexit will work successfully once the prominent figures within the European Union accept sensible negotiations.[3] Concerns over the island just west of the UK are exaggerated and unjustified.

Counter arguments

The fears of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is a valid concern. There is a long and checkered history of violence along the border – historians coined this era as The Troubles. Bombings and murders were committed on both sides of this fight.[4] After the Good Friday Agreement, both governments eliminated checkpoints, took down barriers, and peace became more common. The possibility of a physical border between both countries to check trade brings up fears among Irish and British alike that the Good Friday agreement may dissolve.[5]

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-mep-gerard-batten_uk_5a1bc658e4b0d4906cafb721?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGi6VhIzK_y8E0fQ9twozhZ5AD9Wn5HUk6jgYnZZvtb79CP-dp-ulN80MO8J2U-qEouA75b45Qw-bqWGjnHn8XpRcWDHqpr10j71lhAHdNP41AYOvz_p4gSn7wf-932f-WaFHfbf3Rqj8iugMVqsJy_xoZkGby36Mr5diW2SJILl
  2. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8770719/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-Government-insists-no-hard-border-Ireland-one-Kent.html
  3. https://www.politico.eu/article/michael-gove-2-day-brexit-border-chaos-uk-france/
  4. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/the-history-of-the-irish-border-from-plantation-to-brexit-1.3769423
  5. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-42180074
This page was last edited on Wednesday, 30 Sep 2020 at 00:24 UTC

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