Tony Blair explains why a no-deal Brexit would be so devastating to peace in Northern Ireland

Tony Blair has warned of the “devastating consequences” a no-deal Brexit would have on the peace process with Northern Ireland in an interview with Sky News this morning.

Speaking to broadcast journalist Sophy Ridge, the former prime minister, who has previously supported a second referendum, said:

No one could responsibly propose this [a no-deal Brexit]. It would be economically very, very dangerous for Britain and for the peace process in Northern Ireland, it would potentially be devastating. 

We would have a hard border, a very hard border, no-deal Brexit means a really hard border between the north and south of Ireland, contrary to the Good Friday Agreement and it would cause an enormous fissure within the United Kingdom

Blair also accused politicians of “playing fast and loose from the beginning” over the issue of the border.

There's people who cheerfully say you can put the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in a completely different relationship with Europe, in trading terms, and it makes no difference to the economy of Northern Ireland - I don't know on what basis they would possibly say that

While some people seemed to agree with the former prime minister, others thought he had no business commenting on the state of Brexit.

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