https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tory-leader-incorrectly-claims-ni-voted-for-brexit-is-it-any-wonder-more-and-more-people-are-thinking-and-talking-about-irish-unity/a771825541.html

Tory leader incorrectly claims NI voted for Brexit: ‘Is it any wonder more and more people are thinking and talking about Irish unity?’

Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has mistakenly claimed that Northern Ireland voted to exit the European Union.

Badenoch was speaking with BBC News NI ahead of her party’s annual conference this weekend.

When asked how her party would benefit the Union after it oversaw the introduction of the contentious Irish Sea Border, she said that “the last time I checked, Northern Ireland did vote to leave”.

While a UK-wide majority vote of 52% to 48% was secured in the 2016 referendum, only 44% of voters here voted to leave the EU.

Ms Badenoch’s blunder prompted Foyle MP Colum Eastwood to criticise the comments.

https://twitter.com/bbctheview/status/1973786862474219614

NIO minister who said vote on united Ireland should be based ‘on opinion poll’ replaced by Starmer

Taking to X, the SDLP party member said: “I think this shows pretty clearly how seriously they take this place. Is it any wonder more and more people are thinking and talking about Irish unity?”

Badenoch later acknowledged her mistake by reaffirming the UK in its entirety chose to leave.

The Leader of the Opposition said: "Scotland voted to remain, a lot of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain, you're right – but Wales and England voted to leave, the UK as a whole voted to leave."

She added: “I do recognise the people of Northern Ireland voted to remain and we came up with a settlement – it wasn't perfect, but it tried to make sure we had a way of Northern Ireland getting the best of both worlds."

Later in the interview, Badenoch expressed how she was “deeply concerned” by Labour’s attempts to undo her party’s Troubles Legacy Act.

The legislation faced strong opposition from victims groups and all political parties in Stormont after including a conditional amnesty for Troubles era crimes.

In a move dubbed “a big step forward” by Tanaiste Simon Harris, Labour set out to make a new framework in tandem with the Irish Government.

The deal seeks to bridge the divide between the two administrations created by the former Act.

Badenoch said her party “went through a lot of pain” in an effort to deliver the old legislation that had been opposed by every party in Northern Ireland.

She added: “When you speak to veterans a lot of people were affected, I think they're worried that again and again, decisions are being made by politicians but they are the ones being held accountable for them."

by vague_intentionally_

16 comments

  1. The part people are missing with this is that she said “Ireland” first.

  2. Last time I was in England they had tayto and club orange in the world foods aisle

    Should tell you how they view us

  3. I mean she should know this, at the same time this is the shit that happens when the British media spend years representing the DUP on all NI issues to the point even politicians forget there is more than just unionists living here.

  5. Who’s thinking and taking about Irish unity? A couple of politicians? Lol 🤣

  7. > She added: “When you speak to veterans a lot of people were affected, I think they’re worried that again and again, decisions are being made by politicians but they are the ones being held accountable for them.”

    Oh yeah, the politicians made them sign up for the army, than made them shoot unarmed young fellas in the face.

  8. There is a big storm today is it any surprise more and more people are talking about Irish unity

    Deluded nationalist

  9. It’s pretty clear English politicians don’t really care too much about here, but are non Sinn Fein ROI politicians much better? They always seem lukewarm at best when talking about unity and referendums.

  10. I mean, if you want to get pedantic about it. It wasn’t a Northern Ireland vote. It was a UK vote and NI as part of the UK did in fact vote to leave the EU. But to echo what everyone has said and half the population here always seem to be ignorant to, Britian don’t give a flying fuck about this place.

  12. It’s Team GB at the olympics for a reason. It’s a pity some people here don’t realise they aren’t wanted. ‘Ireland’ ‘Voted to leave’

  13. # > Is it any wonder more and more people are thinking and talking about Irish unity?’

    (checks outside) nope. still in the union. and nobody seems to be in a hurry to leave.

  14. In 2025 ideology trumps truth. A correction of some kind is inevitable.

  15. > Badenoch said her party “went through a lot of pain” in an effort to deliver the old legislation that had been opposed by every party in Northern Ireland.

    lmao

  16. Her name is literally “Bad-Enoch”. Shocked Picachu face….

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