A TORY Brexiteer has revealed an astounding level of ignorance towards the Irish border problem, by claiming that everyone in England is entitled to an Irish passport.
Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, was appearing on Stephen Nolan’s Radio 5 Live show last night when he made the astonishing claim.
When asked if he was committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland was not treated differently to the rest of the UK after Brexit, Bridgen responded: “I am, yes.”
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Nolan responded that the Conservatives already accept that Northern Ireland is different given that they will still have the right to be EU citizens.
This is absolute typical #Brexit baloney by Andrew Bridgen who hasn't got a clue what he's talking about - there is no such agreement which exists - under the GFA, N Irish citizens can choose between a UK and Irish passport but that does not apply to the UK as a whole.... https://t.co/TCvSP7ELbd
— Thomas Cole (@ThomasHCole) October 15, 2018
A clearly uninformed Bridgen then said: “Well that’s the Common Travel Area as well, isn’t it? We do have the right to go over to Ireland, don’t we?
“As an English person I have the right to go to Ireland, I believe I can ask for a passport, can’t I?”
He added: “I’m sure that currently there is a reciprocal agreement where I can go to Ireland and ask for an Irish passport and someone from Ireland can come to the UK and ask for a British passport.
“We have that system, that’s the system we have.”
No, we don’t.
Then, when asked by a dumbfounded Nolan if he truly believes such an agreement exists, Bridgen replied: “I can apply for Irish citizenship, yes.”
Twitter was quick to mock the befuddled Brexiteer:
Sitting in @bbc5live studio with @StephenNolan facilitating the complete self-destruction of Andrew Bridgen Tory MP, whose understanding of Brexit & Northern Ireland is not only appalling but dangerous
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) October 14, 2018
Brilliant!! According to Andrew Bridgen we can all apply for an Irish passport, so if the UK leaves the EU, we don't have to. My worries are now over. Brexit doesn't have to apply to me.
— jayniew #PEU 🇪🇺🇬🇧 (@jayniew11) October 14, 2018
Oh if only!!!! What a muppet Bridgen is!
The most ignorant interview I have heard on the radio in DECADES. This delusion by Andrew Bridgen MUST be highlighted into Monday #R4Today https://t.co/ujDdpDO4ct
— BigWatchLover (@BigWatchLover) October 14, 2018
@bbc5live This is the trouble with a lot of #Brexiteers like Andrew Bridgen. They're just making it up as they go along. #Clueless
— Mark (@markofbattersea) October 14, 2018
Unfortunately Mark is correct, they are making it up as they go along.
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