A very interesting afternoon in Brussels.
An emergency session of EU lawmakers in Brussels has seen the temperatures rise as UKIP leader Nigel Farage was heckled during his speech. The meeting was called in the wake of the United Kingdom opting to leave the EU by a margin of 52% to 48%.
Northern Ireland voted in overwhelmingly large numbers to remain part of the EU and there are still so many contentious and uncertain issues regarding the political future of both countries within the EU, especially regarding Anglo-Irish relations.
It’s clear that Farage took great pleasure in telling those assembled that they’re “not laughing now”.
The EU "as a political project" is in "denial", @Nigel_Farage tells European Parliament https://t.co/K6pbNnkHr0 https://t.co/ec0zNL9xL2
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 28, 2016
The President of the European Union Jean-Claude Juncker had a very clear message for Farage and his fellow UKIP MEPs, asking them: “Why are you here?”
European Commission prez Juncker told Farage: "That's the last time you're applauding here… Why are you here?" pic.twitter.com/JOXaVIxxvS
— BuzzFeed News UK (@BuzzFeedNewsUK) June 28, 2016
On a serious note, the impact that Brexit will have on Northern Ireland’s position within the EU remains unclear with very serious questions still requiring answers. Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams already shared his views on the matter and his colleague Martina Anderson has also offered a passionate defence of Northern Irish voters.
She feels that the collective British vote to leave the EU will “would be like Britannia waves the rules”. She also raised concerns over a border between Northern and the Republic of Ireland stating that “there was a democratic vote, we voted to remain. I tell you, that the last thing the people of Ireland need is an EU border with 27 member states stopped right in the middle of it.”
"We say we are not bound by a UK vote…We stand by the vote of the people of the North of Ireland." https://t.co/zZEKHscSxP
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 28, 2016
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