Villiers says Brexit would not undermine peace process

Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers has condemned as "highly irresponsible" claims that a British exit from the European Union could undermine the peace process in the North.

Speaking ahead of a visit to the North by former prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major, Ms Villiers said support for the peace process was rock solid.

"The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland believe their future should only ever be determined by democracy and consent and not by violence. I very much hope figures who played such an important role in the peace process would not suggest that a Brexit vote would weaken that resolve in any way.

“Whatever the result of the referendum, Northern Ireland is not going back to the troubles of its past and to suggest otherwise would be highly irresponsible,” she said.

Campaigners for Britain to remain in the EU, including the Taoiseach and other Ministers, have expressed fears that a vote to leave could lead to the restoration of a hard border with the North.

Ms Villiers dismissed such fears, pointing out that the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland had survived for almost a century.

“It will continue if we vote to leave. There would be risks to manage but they are not significantly more serious than risks that are already managed effectively today through bilateral cooperation between the UK and Ireland,” she said.

“The idea that thousands of non-Irish EU citizens would suddenly start crossing the border is far-fetched. If we vote leave and change the rules on free movement for non-Irish EU citizens, then if they come to the UK across our land border without legal clearance to do so, they would not be able to work, or claim benefits, or rent a home, or open a bank account and could ultimately be deported.

“There are plenty of mechanisms we can use to control immigration and deal with risks around illegal migration which do not involve physical checks at our land border. The reality is that there has never been a genuinely ‘hard border’ enforced between the UK and Ireland and there would not be one if we leave,” she said.