‘Do not abandon us into following a fate not of our choosing’: Eastwood’s Breixt plea to EU leaders

The people of the North should not be forced into a future they did not vote for, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said.

The Foyle MLA was speaking in Prague at the weekend when addressed European leaders and Heads of State at the PES Summit in Prague on his party’s proposals for a special status for Northern Ireland within Europe following June’s referendum result.

Mr Eastwood (pictured) said: “In fighting Brexit in Ireland, that is the future we are fighting for.

“That is the political choice we are making.

“That is why we in the SDLP are continuing to fight to gain special status for Northern Ireland in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

“Northern Ireland should not be forced into the same deal cobbled together by a dysfunctional and divided British Government.

“We should not be forced into following a future we did not vote for.

“If forcing a hard Brexit in Ireland is permitted, Northern Ireland will contain the largest density of EU citizens of any region who will find themselves, unwillingly, living outside the European Union.

“This will have been despite the fact that a clear majority, 56% of our people, voted to remain.

“That requires careful thought.

“It will be an historic and dangerous breach of what European citizenship means.

“My plea to you is this – do not let that happen.

“Do not abandon us into following a fate not of our choosing.

“If the ideas and ideals of the European Union are to demonstrate resilience, the rights and wishes of European citizens in Northern Ireland must be upheld.

“Through the European Institutions, through your own national governments and parliaments - stand up and fight for our right to belong in Europe.

“Allow us to retain access to the single market, retain the customs union, retain freedom of movement across the island of Ireland and retain our access to European funding programmes.

“Fight to allow us to retain that which we already have and fight to allow us to retain that which we have democratically voted for.”

Mr Eastwood concluded: “Fight to allow us to retain all that European citizenship means right now and all that it can mean in the future.”