DUP gives June EU referendum date the red card

Football will be the focus for voters if the Government opts to hold the EU referendum during Euro 2016, ministers have been warned.
Nigel Dodds wants the EU referendum held in autumn rather than JuneNigel Dodds wants the EU referendum held in autumn rather than June
Nigel Dodds wants the EU referendum held in autumn rather than June

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds told the Commons the clash is “another good argument” for the EU referendum to be held later than June.

He also insisted extra costs will be incurred if the two events take place simultaneously due to the number of English, Welsh and Northern Irish fans travelling to France who will require postal and proxy votes.

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The Belfast North MP later labelled claims that Irish republican terrorism could increase due to a British exit from the EU as “absurd nonsense”.

Mr Dodds told MPs he would prefer the in/out referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU to take place in autumn 2016 rather than June 23, which has been mooted by some MPs as the potential date.

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish politicians are worried the elections in their countries scheduled for May 5 will be overshadowed by a June EU referendum.

A motion tabled by the DUP warns a June date risks “contaminating the result” of the EU referendum and calls for a “full and comprehensive” debate.

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Speaking during an opposition day debate, Mr Dodds said he fears Prime Minister David Cameron is “rushing” the referendum rather than “getting it right”.

Mr Dodds added: “I think personally the longer the debate the better, in terms of giving people the fullest and comprehensive debate, but I personally would be content to have the referendum in the autumn.

“We don’t have to go until the end of 2017 but we certainly should go beyond June and not have it enmeshed with the elections we have spoken about.”

Addressing “scare stories” circulating, Mr Dodds said: “What I do not accept and can hardly believe has happened from the mouths of serious figures who really should know better is the sort of absurd nonsense that somehow a British exit from the EU could in itself precipitate the rise of Irish republican terrorism again.

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“It’s hard to know what’s worse about claims like these – that they’re criminally irresponsible or that they’re logically fatuous.

“Brexit will neither cause republican terrorism nor make any difference to it.

“It’s cause, wrong and bad as it is, is Northern Ireland’s membership of the United Kingdom – democratically decided and settled – not the UK’s membership of the EU.

“So those in recent weeks who have claimed terrorism will be encouraged or facilitated by a leave vote in the EU referendum are peddling scare stories of the very worst nature, and I can only hope they are already ashamed of them and will not repeat them again.”

The DUP’s motion was defeated by 286 votes to 70, a majority of 216.