CONSERVATIVE MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has claimed the Irish government will be the “main culprit” in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Leo Varadkar’s government was also branded “obdurate” by the pro-leave campaigner as part a tweet that saw Rees-Mogg criticise the “phantom” Irish border issue.
He was writing in reaction to a report from the Irish Independent on how the Irish government is set to seek millions of euros in special aid from Brussels in the event of the UK crashing out of the Europe Union (EU) without a deal.
Rees-Mogg has made no secret of the fact he is unhappy with the ongoing negotiations surrounding Britain’s departure from the EU.
He has already refused to vote in favour of Theresa May's withdrawal deal in the House of Commons and led a failed attempt to oust May through a vote of no confidence last December.
The MP for North East Somerset’s attitude over the border issue sparked criticism and concern online.
Having a pop at the Irish while opening two offices in their capital to make money doesn’t sound like careful forward planning to me. Hope your paperwork is spot on, they can be very bureaucratic, when they want to be!
— Matt Gallagher (@TammRehgallag) January 3, 2019
If we leave without a deal the main culprits will include you! You helped cause this with your ERG mates. Man up to that fact and take some blame.
— liam norris (@liamnorris1001) January 3, 2019
@campaignforleo Firstly, the British created the border, second, the British created the referendum to leave the #EU thirdly the British voted to leave, remind me how all of the above is Ireland’s fault?
— Chay Bowes 🏴☠️ (@BowesChay) January 3, 2019
Rees-Mogg has never shied away from expressing his unique opinion on the issue of the border either.
"There would be our ability, as we had during The Troubles, to have people inspected,” he previously said.
"It's not a border that everyone has to go through every day, but of course, for security reasons, during The Troubles, we kept a very close eye on the border to try and stop gun-running and things like that."