The Briefing Room

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David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news

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The Briefing Room: The Irish Question

The Irish Question

BBC Radio 4 - The Briefing Room, The Irish Question

Has Brexit brought the reunification of Ireland any closer?

Northern Ireland has stayed in the EU’s single market and customs union post-Brexit. Has this brought Irish reunification any closer?

This year marks 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland, in May 1921. But in the light of Brexit, which has left Northern Ireland inside the EU’s single market and customs union, creating, in effect, a border in the Irish Sea, conversations about the possibility of Irish reunification are getting louder.  One opinion poll suggested there is now a slender majority in Northern Ireland in favour of holding what’s known as a “border poll”, a referendum on the reunification of Ireland, within five years. So has Brexit made reunification any more likely? 

With Margaret O’Callaghan of Queen’s University, Belfast; Alan Renwick of University College London; Sam McBride of The News Letter; and Etain Tannam of Trinity College, Dublin.

Presenter: David Aaronovitch
Editor: Jasper Corbett
Producers: Tim Mansel, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight

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