Gloating Verhofstadt attacks Farage's claim Ireland could follow Brexit and quit EU
GUY VERHOFSTADT let rip at Nigel Farage after a poll revealed 92 percent of Ireland want to remain a part of the European Union after the Brexiteer suggested Dublin could follow Britain out of the bloc.
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Mr Verhofstadt proclaimed the “Brexit domino effect has foundered” after Brexiteers, including Mr Farage, suggested Irexit could be on the horizon.
Former Ukip leader Mr Farage has suggested Ireland could follow Britain out of the EU, even travelling to Dublin to give a keynote speech at a Irexit conference in February.
He said: “There are voiced now in Ireland saying maybe the Brits are right about it.
“There are lots of people in the professional media, civil service and political classes who love the European Union, but actually, if you go outside Dublin, it’s not all that pro-EU.
It seems the Brexit domino effect predicted by Nigel Farage and others has foundered
“I’ve never bought this argument that Ireland is totally pro-EU.”
But new polling has said 92 percent of Ireland believes the country should remain as part of the EU.
In the wake of the research, Mr Verhofstadt sent a gloating tweet reminding Mr Farage of his previous comments.
Mr Verhofstadt said the polling dealt a blow to those hoping for a “Brexit domino effect” in the wake of the UK’s decision to quit the EU.
The Belgian MEP said: “There is no room for complacency, but it seems the Brexit domino effect predicted by Nigel Farage and others has foundered.
“Remarkable to see that now 92 percent of Irish people polled believe that Ireland should remain part of the EU.”
Noelle O’Connell, executive director of the European Movement Ireland, who commissioned the poll, said: “People are very clear that leaving the EU would not be in Ireland interests.
“However, there is understandable uncertainty about what changes Brexit will bring to Ireland, the border and the Ireland-UK trade relationship in the long term.”
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Brexit has seemingly strengthened Dublin’s appreciation of the EU, with the number of supporters growing over the last year of negotiations.
At the start of Brexit negotiations in 2017, polling showed 88 percent supported remaining in the EU.
Ms O’Connell added: “Contrary to recent claims, at 92 percent support for Ireland’s membership of the EU remains strong; in fact it is at an all-time high since we first undertook this poll in 2013.”