EU will 'ensure the Republic of Ireland are doing well' from post-Brexit trade war, says Baroness Hoey

EU will 'ensure the Republic of Ireland are doing well' from post-Brexit trade war, says Baroness Hoey
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Samantha Haynes

By Samantha Haynes


Published: 18/05/2022

- 21:18

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:22

The former Labour MP and Independent Peer weighed in on the legal row between UK and EU

Baroness Kate Hoey spoke to GB News' Mark Steyn about the Northern Ireland Protocol and stressed the importance of the European Union's connections to the Republic of Ireland.

The former Labour MP and Independent Peer told Mark: "This is very much about ensuring the Republic of Ireland, who are still very much a member of the European Union, are doing very well."


The Republic of Ireland has been an EU member country since 1 January 1973.

Baroness Kate Hoey
Baroness Kate Hoey
GB News

Speaking about the legal row between UK and EU, she said: "Economically, there is no such thing as it being the best of both worlds."

The former Labour MP reacted to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss' controversial plans to scrap parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.

Mark Steyn
Mark Steyn
GB News

She said: "Liz Truss' speech was pretty good and changes a few things but it is all word still. We need the legislation that will guarantee the Act of Union has not been broken and restores Article 6."

Mark Steyn said he thought Liz Truss was "being tougher than the Prime Minister is."

Baroness Hoey responded: "The fact devolution has stopped means the legislation has to be table and enacted."

The Foreign Secretary has defended the plans, insisting the action to address the “very severe” situation in the region cannot be delayed.

The EU has threatened to retaliate with “all measures at its disposal” if the UK proceeds with new legislation overwriting sections of the Northern Ireland Protocol, as announced on Tuesday.

Liz Truss told the Commons she intends to bring forward the Bill within weeks, in an effort to reduce “unnecessary bureaucracy” and protect the Good Friday Agreement.

The Independent Peer also gave her opinion of Prime Minister Boris Johnson after he visited Belfast to meet leaders of the Stormont parties in an attempt to secure progress.

"It is amazing how little Prime Ministers in any parties actually come to Northern Ireland," she said.

Baroness Hoey called for Boris Johnson and future leaders of the UK Government be less absent: "It's about time the Prime Minister comes to Northern Ireland more often and not just when there is a crisis."

She also emphasised "the EU needs to know the Prime Minister is serious" in changing the legislation.

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