News / More / Reports

Will Brexit revive sectarianism in Ireland's north?

Friday, 31 January 2020 10:42 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 31 January 2020 10:49 PM ]

A Brexit supporter waves a US and Union flags as they wait for the festivities to begin in Parliament Square, the venue for the Leave Means Leave Brexit Celebration in central London on January 31, 2020, the day that the UK formally leaves the European Union. (Photo by AFP)

Robert Carter
Press TV, Belfast

After four years of Brexit wrangling and chaos, Britain can finally look towards life outside the European Union.

But as Britain prepares for a border change with the EU, the question is will the borders in Ireland change too?

Belfast is a divided city, with walls needing to remain erect in order to keep the peace. Brexit too has been a deeply divisive issue. The only difference here, compared to England or Westminster, is that disputes have a sectarian dynamic which can so easily boil over.

The Irish border has been one of the biggest obstacles in the Brexit negotiations.

The issue of whether a hard border will be unforced, via land or down the Irish sea, has reopened old sectarian divisions between the Protestant Unionist communities, who want to keep the north connected with the UK, and the Catholic Republicans, who wish to see no border on Ireland at all.

Speaking to an MP from Ireland's largest republican party, he explained why many now see uniting with Ireland more appealing than staying part of the UK.

To combat fears, the EU and UK agreed a special Irish protocol as part of the withdrawal agreement, which provided additional assurance to protect Ireland from a return to past violence.

This year, the main Unionist and Republican Parties agreed to a power-sharing government, ending a three year suspension of parliament. An encouraging step, but will agreements be honored once Britain goes solo?

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk