It’s difficult to comprehend this level of ignorance
75-year-old BBC host John Humphrys, who has been the host of BBC Radio 4’s Today since 1987, asked the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee why Ireland don’t “throw their lot in with the UK” and leave the European Union.
McEntee reminded Humphrys that polling suggests as many as 92% of the Irish population want to remain in the EU.
And Humphrys concludes the interview by asking McEntee, "Why doesn't Dublin, why doesn't the Republic of Ireland, leave the European Union and throw in their lot with this country?" 🤦♂️ #r4today pic.twitter.com/KBIY12UbqM
— Property Spotter (@PropertySpot) January 26, 2019
The interview saw the pair discuss the looming threat of a hard border in Ireland if a deal cannot be struck by the UK and the EU by 29 March.
Elsewhere, Humphrys claimed that the people of the UK voted to leave the single market and customs union. McEntee again reminded him that this facet of Brexit was a government decision.
The interview has drawn widespread derision online.
Wow the sanctimonious #johnhumphrys just called the Irish women arrogant for daring to suggest that Ireland will not accept a border which threatens the peace process.
Please #r4today get this man off the radio#brexit#BrexitShambles #goodfridayagreement#nohardborder 😡😡😡😡— Clár – Dá fhada an lá tagann an tráthnóna 💙 (@clarefarrell) January 26, 2019
Did I really just hear John Humphrys on #r4today ask the Irish interviewee why Ireland doesn't leave the EU? Seriously?
— Jo (@JoTrellis) January 26, 2019
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw also had very strong words for Humphrys, saying: “Gobsmacked to hear @BBCr4today’s John Humphrys suggest to an amazingly calm Irish politician that the solution to #Brexitshambles is for Ireland to leave the EU & rejoin the U.K! Such woeful ignorance of history & of modern day Ireland.”
